2nd MERS case suspected in Thailand

[webfact]

2nd MERS case suspected

BANGKOK: -- A Thai resident who just returned from a trip to South Korea is suspected of being infected by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

The resident was one of four tested for MERS. The other three, who have just returned from a trip to China, have already tested negative.

A thorough lab test on the fourth patient is expected later Friday, said a health official in Chiang Mai who insisted that there was no reason to be panic. He said measures are in place to handle the situation.

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said that 69 hospitals in Thailand specialised in SARS and bird flu are now assigned to be watchful for MERS cases.

Asked if he was confident in keeping the situation under control, he shot back at reporters. "Can I give order to the disease? It’s up to all Thais who have to be on alert and contact the authorities if something suspicious happens. I can’t give order to the disease."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/2nd-MERS-case-suspected-30262670.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-19

[davehowden]

More sweet talk from Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Maybe if he did not want to say so much all the time people would think him quite smart!!

What's that saying;

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt"..

[JOC]

>>Asked if he was confident in keeping the situation under control, he shot back at reporters. "Can I give order to the disease? It’s up to all Thais who have to be on alert and contact the authorities if something suspicious happens. I can’t give order to the disease."<< Quote

Another balanced and well thought through reply from the Leader..................

Pressure getting to him??

[Anthony5]

Don't you just love how they continue to put their foot in their mouth.

The other day some government official declared that there was no MERS in Thailand, but only FOUR hours later the first case was reported.

This morning one or another government official announced that yet no Thai in Korea had MERS.

Again only FOUR hours later the first Thai returning from Korea with MERS is on Thai soil.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/833874-thailand-live-friday-19-jun-2015/?p=9530876

Thai embassy: no Thais in South Korean come down with Mers

[Bluespunk]

"Asked if he was confident in keeping the situation under control, he shot back at reporters. "Can I give order to the disease? Its up to all Thais who have to be on alert and contact the authorities if something suspicious happens. I cant give order to the disease."

So that's a no then.

[asiamaster]

More sweet talk from Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Maybe if he did not want to say so much all the time people would think him quite smart!!

What's that saying;

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt"..

That's a pretty smart answer to a pretty stupid question....

[NongKhaiKid]

>>Asked if he was confident in keeping the situation under control, he shot back at reporters. "Can I give order to the disease? It’s up to all Thais who have to be on alert and contact the authorities if something suspicious happens. I can’t give order to the disease."<< Quote

Another balanced and well thought through reply from the Leader..................

Pressure getting to him??

Pressure getting to him, feeling insecure / threatened and so on is the sort of condition that makes people like him even more dangerous.

[cumgranosalum]

It seems the General isn't really aware of what is going on here or how a country deals with this sort of threat.

however as it isn't the first time Thailand has had medical situations like this one has to assume that it has people who DO know how to deal with the problem....unless of course they are otherwise engaged in attitudinal adjustment programs?

[Chao Lao Beach]

Prevously, eg SARS they just denied it, at least they are admiting the results, well once anyway.

[cumgranosalum]

Prevously, eg SARS they just denied it, at least they are admiting the results, well once anyway.

not really, they were slow to catch on, but in many respects the Thai responses to this sort of thing have been reasonable------however, I find the PM's response somewat disturbing as it suggests he isn't really on top of this situation....let's hope the national response is not down to him.

Edited June 20, 2015 by cumgranosalum

[soalbundy]

Next statement from TAT will be ''This will have no effect on tourist numbers''

[little mary sunshine]

Tip of the iceberg

[tigermonkey]

I take it that this new suspected case is in Chiang Mai. since the health department official being quoted is from Chiang Mai.

[Dibbler]

So there is a case in BKK, a Middle eastern man, and a case in Chiangmai. So now let's watch as this thing spreads at these two points. It's a perfect storm, a highly contagious disease in country with third world quarantine procedures and public health officials issuing gaffes and misinformation by the hour.

[diehard60]

So now we 2. I just wonder how many people this person came in contact with? I know there are many people that just came back from SK who have been working there for a few years.

[sfokevin]

Next statement from TAT will be ''This will have no effect on tourist numbers''

More likely they will up thier estimated arrivals...

[ABCer]

Not having much to add to above comments,

I would like to know who to thank for the picturesque artwork

accompanying all the news about MERS?

Now we all know the culprit by face. Great help...

[bridge2bridge]

More sweet talk from Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Maybe if he did not want to say so much all the time people would think him quite smart!!

What's that saying;

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt"..

What do you expect him to do.

WAVE a magic wand

[Lopchan]

Love the way the TV Anti-Prayuth movement can find a way to blame him for this one...bringing up the SARS outbreak proves what a sorry bunch they are....that was under the other glorious leaders NOT the general....

I'm all for democratic reform and people having an opinion, but at least try to be OBJECTIVE in what you're saying.

Maybe Herr and Frau Thaksin could click their heels together 3 times and all disease and other problems in Thailand would vanish forever...except the problem of their corruption and nepotism of course....

[Lupatria]

Next statement from TAT will be ''This will have no effect on tourist numbers''

You mean after they sealed all entrances, windows, and aircons of their headquarter with duct tape, right?

[Amo]

I think he done very well. Ask a dumb question get a dumb answer!

>>Asked if he was confident in keeping the situation under control, he shot back at reporters. "Can I give order to the disease? It’s up to all Thais who have to be on alert and contact the authorities if something suspicious happens. I can’t give order to the disease."<< Quote

Another balanced and well thought through reply from the Leader..................

Pressure getting to him??

[Jimlove]

So there is a case in BKK, a Middle eastern man, and a case in Chiangmai. So now let's watch as this thing spreads at these two points. It's a perfect storm, a highly contagious disease in country with third world quarantine procedures and public health officials issuing gaffes and misinformation by the hour.

Agree ... House of Cards will fall soon - they will never be able to control this. PM feels the heat now maybe

[beowolf2012]

yes he can make order to spread the SARS infection by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) If we say all

diseases come from a labotory and then they also have MERS to make testing.

Same as HIV - AIDS.

If we say all people all over the wold before HIV and AIDS break out was healthy then the infection most come from the lab. And something go very wrong.

A sick diktator ( no name ) can spreed all kind of diseases just for fun or because he/she is sick....

Birdflu come because we kip the chicken in a very small place. So they go stresed and the disease spread to the eggs. as we eat. therfore birdflu.

All kind of viruses is in the lab so they can authenticate the virus. Those they not have is a new one and then they most try to find a cure for that.

Edited June 20, 2015 by beowolf2012

[fareastguy]

Considering the health system in Thailand I suspect the numbers will climb rapidly should these two cases prove to have infected others before detection.

Most Thais cannot afford hospital treatment for severe illnesses let alone go for even for minor ailments, so a little high body temperature, breathing difficulty etc will be "shrugged off" as normal daily issues such as a common cold or flu, with the rainy season arriving many Thais suffer colds due to the change in temps & humidity so this will also mask possible M.E.R.S syndrome...
whilst they are at large in the public domain they will spread the disease to family members & others that they come into contact with!!

It's all well and good having 69 hospitals nationwide on alert... but you need the patients on the "inside" to do any good !!

Tip of the ice-berg indeed

[Colabamumbai]

Tip of the iceberg

If there are 2 known cases there are 200 unknown.

[Preman]

I am not a fan of the current regime, but those who point the finger of blame or misconduct are not being real.

The so called western / advanced countries are also ill equipped to handle virulent disease outbreaks.

I can speak from first hand experience. I contracted SARS whilst traveling on a plane from Hong Kong to LA in 2003.

The guy sitting in front of me was the carrier. I am Australian, but living in the USA at the time.

The disease control centre in Atlanta contacted me 6 weeks after the fact to test my blood and to confirm that I did indeed contract that virus. That is how long it took them. Yes, even in the USA.

It was a very bad near death experience, which I thankfully got through. I am told that I now have anti-bodies to SARS.

But my point is, - it is difficult to arrest the spread of diseases like this and one can not blame governments.

Always people think that things like this only happen to others (not me).

People should just be vigilant and aware of this fact.

So easy for these diseases to spread like wildfire. It well could! Conversely, it could also disappear just as quickly.

I hope for the latter!

[hawker9000]

Tip of the iceberg

If there are 2 known cases there are 200 unknown.

Just exactly the kind of homespun, comic book scaremongering drama queens are famous for. What utter rubbish. Even if it's Bugs Bunny, try and give us a source... Go ahead, TRY..,

[HooHaa]

bugger cant seem to bring order to the country either.

[Guest]

Tip of the iceberg

If there are 2 known cases there are 200 unknown.

Just exactly the kind of homespun, comic book scaremongering drama queens are famous for. What utter rubbish. Even if it's Bugs Bunny, try and give us a source... Go ahead, TRY..,

LOL /// yea hawker ... and if his "name" is a clue ... we can only roll on the floor laughing when a citizen of ... wait for it ... Mumbai ... lectures people about hygiene and disease control/

[Guest]

I am not a fan of the current regime, but those who point the finger of blame or misconduct are not being real.

The so called western / advanced countries are also ill equipped to handle virulent disease outbreaks.

I can speak from first hand experience. I contracted SARS whilst traveling on a plane from Hong Kong to LA in 2003.

The guy sitting in front of me was the carrier. I am Australian, but living in the USA at the time.

The disease control centre in Atlanta contacted me 6 weeks after the fact to test my blood and to confirm that I did indeed contract that virus. That is how long it took them. Yes, even in the USA.

It was a very bad near death experience, which I thankfully got through. I am told that I now have anti-bodies to SARS.

But my point is, - it is difficult to arrest the spread of diseases like this and one can not blame governments.

Always people think that things like this only happen to others (not me).

People should just be vigilant and aware of this fact.

So easy for these diseases to spread like wildfire. It well could! Conversely, it could also disappear just as quickly.

I hope for the latter!

Just when I am about to give up hope that anyone can write something of value on this subject ... you show up ...

Thank You !