PM urges calm after discovery of first MERS patient

BANGKOK, 19 June 2015 (NNT) – Prime Minster Prayut Chan-o-cha has called on the Thai people not to panic over the newly-discovered case of MERS in Thailand, affirming the government is doing its best to keep an outbreak at bay.

In the wake of the Public Health Ministry’s declaration of a foreign traveler from the Middle East as the first MERS patient in Thailand, Deputy Government Spokesperson Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd cited Prime Minister Prayut as saying that public members should not be overly alarmed by the incident. Instead, the premier recommended them to stay constantly updated with the news and follow health guidelines given by related agencies for their own safety.

The Prime Minister vowed that the government has been stringently monitoring against suspected patients arriving in Thailand and has already laid down a protocol to deal with an emergency situation in an appropriate and effective manner.

As stated by Maj Gen Sansern, the infected patient is being quarantined for exclusive treatment while close surveillance is being applied on every individual who had previously been in close proximity to him. The deputy spokesman also voiced confidence in the ability of the Ministry of Public Health in containing the virus in compliance with the international standard and preventing the disease from becoming a local pandemic.


-- NNT 2015-06-19

When the government says "don't panic"..

check with mummy

'The government is doing its best' somehow that just doesn't install much confidence.

Is this the same PM who yesterday said there were no MERS cases in Thailand ?

When the government says "don't panic"..

They sound like the character Corporal Jones in the old ' Dad's Army ' television series who would run around in headless chicken fashion shouting series " Don't Panic. "

Nail in the coffin for High Season Tourism

I read that this virus stays alive out of the body for about 2hrs, eg, if he touches somthng like a door handle and so do you then you have it on your hands.

Heading back to The States soon for a visit

Will have my mask on and ample supply of Clorox

Wipes with me

he arrived 3 days ago so everyone on the plane at the airport the passengers and the people they have associated with or have been in close contact with have all been accounted for and cleared ! Feel much safer now !!!!!!!

will be swept under the rug, as tourism is already down, just ignore mers, the robbings, the stabbings, the ladyboys, the ripp offs

will be swept under the rug, as tourism is already down, just ignore mers, the robbings, the stabbings, the ladyboys, the ripp offs

Never get tired of spewing anti-Thai venom??

The case was in the media one hour after the patient was confirmed having MERS..........