Message from US embassy about MERS

[Jonathan Fairfield]

US Embassy Bangkok, Thailand

Saturday, June 20, 2015

The U.S. Mission Thailand is monitoring the current Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in the Republic of South Korea and any related incidents in our region. This notice provides current recommendations.

In South Korea, there are no signs of sustained community-acquired infection. Confirmed cases of transmission have been linked to hospitals. As a result, hospitals in South Korea have increased their surveillance and modified their approach to dealing with patients who exhibit symptoms.

The Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) reported on June 18 the first case of MERS in the Kingdom of Thailand. They are monitoring individuals with possible exposure to that confirmed case and any others that may emerge. Travellers can expect increased passenger screening measures at international airports, particularly for flights from Middle Eastern countries.

Please be aware there may be misguided media reports regarding the current MERS risk. A good source of reliable information about this disease is the CDC MERS website from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The World Health Organization also provides advice in English on MERS (WHO MERS Fact Sheet.)

Even though the current risk for exposure in Thailand is extremely low, there are common-sense steps you can take to further minimize risk:

1) Frequent hand washing, particularly after touching other people and after going out in public. Carry a pocket-sized hand sanitizer with you.

2) Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, or nose.

3) Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.

4) Avoid contact with people who are coughing or sneezing.

5) Discuss with your family the steps above. Know who is playing with your children and inquire if anyone is sick.

6) Stay home is you are sick with any viral illness.

U.S. citizens who travel to or reside in Thailand are strongly advised to enroll in the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) https://step.state.gov/step/. U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. By enrolling, you make it easier for the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in case of an emergency.

The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy (http://bangkok.usemb...ov/service.html) is located at 95 Wireless Road in Bangkok, and can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049, or by e-mailing [email protected]. The Embassy's after-hours emergency telephone number is 66- 2-205-4000.

The U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai (http://chiangmai.usc...ov/service.html), located at 387 Wichayanond Road in Chiang Mai, is also open unless otherwise indicated. The American Citizen Services Unit of the Consulate General can be reached by calling 66-53-107- 777 and by e-mail at [email protected]. The after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-81-881-1878. You can also follow the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok's American Citizen Services Unit on Twitter for further updates.

Current information on safety and security can also be obtained on travel.state.gov http://travel.state....el/english.html or by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444 for callers from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

U.S. citizens should also consult the Department of State's Country Specific Information for Thailand http://travel.state....y/thailand.html. Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs websitehttp://travel.state....el/english.html, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts http://travel.state....tswarnings.html as well as the Worldwide Caution http://travel.state....de-caution.html. Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/travelgov and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on facebook https://www.facebook.com/travelgov as well.

[JLCrab]

From the above US Message: Please be aware there may be misguided media reports regarding the current MERS risk.

Misguided media reports on here? Perish the thoughts.

[zaphod reborn]

Notice that there is no recommendation that you wear a mask. Wearing a mask might reduce your chance of spreading MERS, if you were already infected but does nothing to preventing you from contracting the disease, if you are exposed to it.

[Robby nz]

In South Korea there have been multiple cases and even deaths.

They say " In South Korea, there are no signs of sustained community-acquired infection Confirmed cases of transmission have been linked to hospitals. As a result, hospitals in South Korea have increased their surveillance and modified their approach to dealing with patients who exhibit symptoms.."

Is this not also true in Thailand ?

There has been one confirmed case in Thailand and that was someone who came from the ME and went straight to a hospital where he was immediately quarantined.

All those who came in contact with him have been identified, screened and in suspected cases isolated. There was also one other suspected case of a woman who came from South Korea but she has now been cleared.

Yet we see this from the US embassy which makes it look like the disease is widespread in Thailand which it is not.

Has there been similar notifications everywhere in the world where there have been cases identified ? Or is this just another "Pick on Thailand" thing ?

[NeverSure]

"Yet we see this from the US embassy which makes it look like the disease is widespread in Thailand which it is not."

Where do you get that it makes it look widespread?

[chainarong]

It is good of the US embassy to release this message, I gather to the benefit to all Expats, unfortunately due to budget restraints , cutbacks and paying people traffickers to turn back to Indonesia, the Australian Embassy hasn't the resources to advise on anything related to helping their citizens.

[Lopchan]

It is good of the US embassy to release this message, I gather to the benefit to all Expats, unfortunately due to budget restraints , cutbacks and paying people traffickers to turn back to Indonesia, the Australian Embassy hasn't the resources to advise on anything related to helping their citizens.

Edit: "hasn't the resources nor the inclination to advise on anything related to helping their citizens.

[razer]

"Yet we see this from the US embassy which makes it look like the disease is widespread in Thailand which it is not."

Where do you get that it makes it look widespread?

Same with the SARS (promoted pandemic). I am glad the information is public ... it should be taken seriously ... but rationally.

My first visit to Bangkok was during the SARS scare. Got 2 nights, 3 days, 4-star hotel and airfare for 10,000 Baht. I didn't contract SARS.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

"Yet we see this from the US embassy which makes it look like the disease is widespread in Thailand which it is not."

Where do you get that it makes it look widespread?

I had the same impression, and wondered if the prior poster was reading the same U.S. advisory as the rest of us.

Because, the advisory from the U.S. that's posted here specifically says:

Even though the current risk for exposure in Thailand is extremely low,

[Davo53]

It is good of the US embassy to release this message, I gather to the benefit to all Expats, unfortunately due to budget restraints , cutbacks and paying people traffickers to turn back to Indonesia, the Australian Embassy hasn't the resources to advise on anything related to helping their citizens.

maybe you should look on smart traveller instead of just critising the gov. check notice 19/06/

[Jonmarleesco]

In South Korea there have been multiple cases and even deaths.

They say " In South Korea, there are no signs of sustained community-acquired infection Confirmed cases of transmission have been linked to hospitals. As a result, hospitals in South Korea have increased their surveillance and modified their approach to dealing with patients who exhibit symptoms.."

Is this not also true in Thailand ?

There has been one confirmed case in Thailand and that was someone who came from the ME and went straight to a hospital where he was immediately quarantined.

All those who came in contact with him have been identified, screened and in suspected cases isolated. There was also one other suspected case of a woman who came from South Korea but she has now been cleared.

Yet we see this from the US embassy which makes it look like the disease is widespread in Thailand which it is not.

Has there been similar notifications everywhere in the world where there have been cases identified ? Or is this just another "Pick on Thailand" thing ?

'Yet we see this from the US embassy which makes it look like the disease is widespread in Thailand ...' We do? I must be missing something. Nothing I read suggests anything about it being widespread. Just some information, and common sense precautions.