Thai health officials ready for any outbreak

BANGKOK: The Public Health Ministry yesterday assured that Thailand is prepared to handle any possible re-emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), indicating that the country is in close coordination with other governments in closely monitoring the reported new case in Taiwan.

The assurance follows confirmation from the Taiwanese health authorities that one of their military medical researchers, who had been investigating the virus, contracted it from a laboratory on Dec 5. Disease Control Department director-general Charal Trinvuthiphong said there is no necessity to bring out Sars prevention measures in Thailand at the moment, because only one case has been reported in Taiwan.

-- Bangkok Post 2003-12-18

Thailand safe from SARS: PM

BANGKOK, Dec. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Thailand is safe from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), as the country has been aware and prepared for the recurrence of the deadly flu, Thai Prime MinisterThaksin Shinawatra said Thursday.

The Thai leader said that the country had gained experience from the previous SARS epidemic earlier this year, and had been aware and prepared for the recurrence of the new deadly pneumonia,the Thai News Agency reported Thursday.

"Thailand was even safe from SARS in its previous spread in theregion earlier this year, as we cooperated closely with the World Health Organizations and strictly followed WHO's suggestions on SARS prevention. We've gained experiences from that. So, we'll be safe from SARS again, given the government's awareness and preparations for the possible recurrence of the deadly flu," he stressed.

Premier Thaksin's remarks were in response to questions on the government's measures to cope with the feared deadly flu in the kingdom following the discovery of a new SARS case in Taiwan earlythis week.

A Taiwanese researcher was infected with SARS after returning from a seminar in Singapore early this month, according to reports.

Public health officials in Taiwan later said the army researcher was infected with SARS during his work in a laboratory,and has quarantined himself since then; so, the recurred deadly flu had not been spread out to others.

In Singapore, authorities have quarantined 70 people having contacted with the Taiwanese researcher over the past four days asa precaution, but have said that there have been no signs of the recurrence of SARS in the island state so far, the agency said