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MERS
Thailand on red alert for MERS threat
THE NATION, AGENCIES

As South Korea reels under crisis, Public Health Ministry to add disease to danger list

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND is swinging into full alert against the killer Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) threat, which has already had serious impacts on South Korea, compelling the country to cut its interest rate in a bid to soften the blow to its economy already burdened by slack demand.

"It will be the seventh disease on the list [of dangerous communicable diseases]," Dr Surachet Satitramai, acting permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said yesterday.

Thailand has seen no MERS cases yet, but Surachet said the move was necessary to facilitate efforts to control the deadly disease if it was contracted here.

Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin will be asked to sign the order for the inclusion of MERS on the danger list in one or two days.

With Rajata's endorsement, MERS will become the latest disease to go on the list after the Ebola virus disease. The five other diseases on the list are cholera, plague, severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), smallpox and yellow fever.

South Korea has been hit by a crisis after more than a hundred cases of MERS.

The organiser of a medical conference, which attracts 20,000 participants from around the world including 4,000 South Koreans, has consulted the Public Health Ministry about what precautionary measures should be taken. The conference runs from today until June 14 in Thailand.

Dr Kumnuan Ungchusak, a specialist at the Disease Control Department, said body-temperature measurement devices would be installed at the entrance to the venue and MERS guideline leaflets would be handed out to participants.

"Anyone with unusually high body temperature won't be allowed to enter the venue," he said.

Kumnuan downplayed concerns about the South Korean participants, pointing out that South Korea had also imposed measures to control MERS and all travellers must undergo MERS screening before leaving South Korea.

About 4,000 South Koreans fly to Thailand every day, he added.

South Korean authorities yesterday reported 14 new MERS cases.

The central bank of Asia's fourth-largest economy surprised the market by shaving 25 basis points of the policy rate, taking it to a record low of 1.5 per cent as a pre-emptive move to cushion the impact of MERS on the economy.

Worry in South Korea about the disease has been reflected across the region with dozens of suspected cases being tested in Hong Kong, though none confirmed, and many thousands of people cancelling trips to South Korea.

South Korea's outbreak, with 122 cases and nine deaths, is the most serious outside Saudi Arabia and began last month when a 68-year-old South Korean businessman brought the disease back from a trip to the Middle East.

He was diagnosed with MERS on May 20 and all subsequent infections have been traced to him, and happened in health facilities.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has put off a trip to the United States to deal with the crisis amid the rising number of cases every day.

Economic policy-makers were already under pressure to stimulate the economy as weak global demand and the strong Korean currency won had dented exports and discouraged spending by consumers and companies. One positive sign was a fall in the number of South Korea's schools and universities that have closed.

The total number of cases dipped to 2,431 yesterday from about 2,700 the previous day after a joint team of experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and South Korea recommended that schools be reopened, as they were unlikely to spread the disease.

However, Thai travellers do not seem to be panicking, as only 10 per cent of trips to South Korea have been cancelled.

"Thais can still travel to Korea but need to cautious and monitor developments about the disease. Korean tourists can visit Thailand as usual," Suparerk Soorangura, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, said recently.

Kasikorn Research Centre reported that 437,500 Thais are expected to travel to South Korea this year, down from the earlier projection of 480,000 and a drop of 8.9 per cent from last year.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thailand-on-red-alert-for-MERS-threat-30262165.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-12

[bangkokheat]

oh goody, so the thais are not worried, too bad if they bring the disease back with them, should stop all travel to and from korea and the middle east to at least try and minimise the threat

[bangkokheat]

just had a horrid thought, would not put it past these muslim extremists to infect their own or others to spread deadly disease thru the rest of the world, assuming of course they had a cure for them selves

[quandow]

just had a horrid thought, would not put it past these muslim extremists to infect their own or others to spread deadly disease thru the rest of the world, assuming of course they had a cure for them selves

Not their style, they like more "bang for the buck."

[Cornhack]

Thais to exercise caution if going to Korea but no control over the 4000 Koreans that come to Thailand every day?? Am I missing something?

[Suradit69]

oh goody, so the thais are not worried, too bad if they bring the disease back with them, should stop all travel to and from korea and the middle east to at least try and minimise the threat

"should stop all travel to and from korea and the middle east"

Another great scheme from the TV resident pool of epidemiologists ... shut down all air traffic every time some disease surfaces anywhere in the world because that will surely solve everything.

"oh goody, so the thais are not worried"

The Thais? Have they shut down all flights to your home country and put everyone on lock down?

Edited June 12, 2015 by Suradit69

[DNPBC0]

Before jumping to catastrophic conclusions about the risks associated with this disease and fueling overreaction, it might be wise to check out the information currently provided by reputable health authorities. This would be a good start:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/faq/en/

[Guest]

Before jumping to catastrophic conclusions about the risks associated with this disease and fueling overreaction, it might be wise to check out the information currently provided by reputable health authorities. This would be a good start:

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/faq/en/

Dear DNPBCO, Sir .. are you mad? This is Thai Visa ! There is not time nor concern for trivialities like FACTS.

This site is fueled by formula of (Racism and hate for all things Thai) + (Raw Emotion) + (beer, lots and lots of beer)

if anyone stopped to look at the problem before going off on a "Lock-down to Defcon 1" rant, they would learn:

What is Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)?

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Where is MERS occurring?

The following countries have reported cases of MERS: Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen (Middle East); France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom (UK) (Europe); Tunisia and Egypt (Africa); China, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and the Philippines (Asia); and the United States of America (Americas).

(Note to the Thai Bash Department) See anyone we know missing from the list? For a country doing a "crap job" managing this problem, Thailand seems to stay off the list for the past 3 years!

Thank you for that excellent link ... much appreciated. have a great weekend ...

Edited June 12, 2015 by Guest

[Shiver]

I look at the acronym and immediately discount everything else said. It feels to me just like a ploy to get us all to fear the middle east.

I don't see any acronym for heart disease, cancer or doctors...

...or crash helmets (lack of).

[Fullstop]

After 8 years here and another 10 weeks to go before I escape back to Oz ... I hope I survive!

[maidee]

me guess, it is all the muslims comming in, that is were they live normally

come and spread the word, and some other germs

[AhFarangJa]

oh goody, so the thais are not worried, too bad if they bring the disease back with them, should stop all travel to and from korea and the middle east to at least try and minimise the threat

I live & work in the Middle East, and my family are with me. Sorry Tee Rak, cannot go home any more, a Thaivisa member wants to ban all flights. Oh, also cases in U.K. lets ban all flights to and from there too, While we are at it, add America to the list, and any other country beginning with "A".

Obviously you are ensconced in your own little world in Thailand.

I am awed sometimes by the ability of some members to post a comment without employing a single brain cell. Truly Amazing.

[pendingo]

I think this is far more worrying than the potential threat from MERS and has been conveniently tucked away in the mainstream media:

Bad Medicine: How the pharmaceutical industry is contributing to the global rise of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, SumOfUs report, 10 June 2015

Indian Woman Being Treated in U.S. for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis, New York Times, 9 June 2015

Watch Antibiotic Resistance Surge in One Stunning Chart, Bloomberg Business, 10 June 2015

Chief Medical Officer: Resistance to antibiotics risks health 'catastrophe', Independent, 11 March 2013

Yes it's good to know the health authorities in LOS are on the ball but all they can do is issue the usual guidelines in respect of hygiene practices as at the time of writing there are no vaccines to combat MERS.

So, you pays yer money and makes yer choice folks; which do you think is going to be worse?

Edited June 12, 2015 by pendingo

[fareastguy]

Before jumping to catastrophic conclusions about the risks associated with this disease and fueling overreaction, it might be wise to check out the information currently provided by reputable health authorities. This would be a good start:

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/faq/en/

With a mortality rate of 40% I for one hope to god it never enters Thailand...

If' you've ever spent any time in a hospital for normal Thai people the chances of spreading infection with non-existant isolation practices are worrying to say the least

[Jonmarleesco]

'"Anyone with unusually high body temperature won't be allowed to enter the venue,"' Wonderful. But they will be allowed in ... to find somewhere else to spread the potential disease.

Presumably, inclusion of the plague on the list is in deference to Bangkok's rat population.

[Jonmarleesco]

Before jumping to catastrophic conclusions about the risks associated with this disease and fueling overreaction, it might be wise to check out the information currently provided by reputable health authorities. This would be a good start:

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/faq/en/

Dear DNPBCO, Sir .. are you mad? This is Thai Visa ! There is not time nor concern for trivialities like FACTS.

This site is fueled by formula of (Racism and hate for all things Thai) + (Raw Emotion) + (beer, lots and lots of beer)

if anyone stopped to look at the problem before going off on a "Lock-down to Defcon 1" rant, they would learn:

What is Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)?

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Where is MERS occurring?

The following countries have reported cases of MERS: Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen (Middle East); France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom (UK) (Europe); Tunisia and Egypt (Africa); China, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and the Philippines (Asia); and the United States of America (Americas).

(Note to the Thai Bash Department) See anyone we know missing from the list? For a country doing a "crap job" managing this problem, Thailand seems to stay off the list for the past 3 years!

Thank you for that excellent link ... much appreciated. have a great weekend ...

Managing the problem? They've had nothing, to date, to manage. But we have seen Thai disease management in the past, and much was unimpressive.

[CantSpell]

Red alert: they put up the "wash your hands" sign

[Guest]

Before jumping to catastrophic conclusions about the risks associated with this disease and fueling overreaction, it might be wise to check out the information currently provided by reputable health authorities. This would be a good start:

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/faq/en/

Dear DNPBCO, Sir .. are you mad? This is Thai Visa ! There is not time nor concern for trivialities like FACTS.

This site is fueled by formula of (Racism and hate for all things Thai) + (Raw Emotion) + (beer, lots and lots of beer)

if anyone stopped to look at the problem before going off on a "Lock-down to Defcon 1" rant, they would learn:

What is Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)?

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Where is MERS occurring?

The following countries have reported cases of MERS: Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen (Middle East); France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom (UK) (Europe); Tunisia and Egypt (Africa); China, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and the Philippines (Asia); and the United States of America (Americas).

(Note to the Thai Bash Department) See anyone we know missing from the list? For a country doing a "crap job" managing this problem, Thailand seems to stay off the list for the past 3 years!

Thank you for that excellent link ... much appreciated. have a great weekend ...

Managing the problem? They've had nothing, to date, to manage. But we have seen Thai disease management in the past, and much was unimpressive.

Hey, here is thought.

Don't like the way Thailand is handling this?

The flights go every few hours to Hong Kong!

Enjoy!

Edited June 12, 2015 by Guest

[ozyjon]

Before jumping to catastrophic conclusions about the risks associated with this disease and fueling overreaction, it might be wise to check out the information currently provided by reputable health authorities. This would be a good start:

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/coronavirus_infections/faq/en/

Cut it out, who want's sensible information currently provided by reputable health authorities..

LETS ALL PANIC INSTEAD

it's better reading