MOPH: No new probable MERS cases found

NONTHABURI, 24 June 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) has reported no new findings of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) patients, while issuing additional announcements to facilitate disease control operations.

The MOPH has issued through their daily report regarding the MERS situation, that the number of confirmed MERS patients is unchanged at one person. The only MERS patient in Thailand is a 75 years old Omani man, who is now showing positive signs of recovery. The number of patients under close monitoring is at 72 persons, 14 of which have arrived in Thailand within the last 24 hours.

The Ministry has made an announcement for all healthcare institutions to comply. All healthcare institutions are to immediately report the MOPH if a suspected patient is discovered. Hospitals are prohibited from declining patient admittance and must ensure proper patient referral to other hospitals, to only transport the patient through vehicles equipped with infection control instruments.

An announcement has also been made on the practices of people traveling from risk countries who have exhibit suspicious symptoms and extended to persons who have come in contact with those suspicious individuals, in order to facilitate the prevention operations against the spread of the MERS virus.

In the meantime, public health officials nationwide have been ordered to closely monitor the conditions of Thai students traveling back from Saudi Arabia during the Ramadan and the Islamic New Year holidays, in the same manner as the general disease control procedures for the Hajj pilgrims that has been carried out for many years.

The Ministry has assured that the public who have not been to risk areas not to worry about the situation, as risk of contracting the virus is low. The general public are encouraged not to believe any rumours regarding the disease, and to directly inquire factual information with the Department of Disease Control Call Center 1422, or at the Mers Thai page on Facebook should they have any questions.

-- NNT 2015-06-24

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