Thailand - Government confirms 1st coronavirus MERS case, traveler from Oman - June 18, 2015

[Gert van der Hoek]

First MERS case detected in Thailand: Local media


Thailand's first case of MERS has been detected in the country, according to local media reports.

• POSTED: 18 Jun 2015

BANGKOK: The first case of Middle East Respiratory Disease (MERS) has been detected in Thailand, according to local media reports on Thursday (Jun 18).
The Public Health Ministry will hold a news conference at 1.30pm (Bangkok time).
According to a Post Today report, one person was diagnosed with the disease in Thailand.

[alert]

This case is now being denied:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/pm-prayut-no-mers-patient/1924032.html

[sharon sanders]

Confirmed by Ministry of Health...

TBA. Patients with respiratory disease first Middle East. Ministry of Public Health Respiratory disease patients, the first Middle East. Welcome to the Middle East today are disease care in institutions Bamrasnaradura. With disease following exposure of 59 people was completed. Thailand detection patients faster. A surveillance system The standard treatment for linking the public, private, public, do not panic. To maintain personal hygiene, eating hot spoon in hand, patients with chronic diseases to avoid traveling to foreign countries with outbreaks. Should you have any further information Call the hotline of the Department of Disease Control, in 1422. Today (18 June 2558) at 18:00 am. The Ministry of Health, Nonthaburi. Prof. MD. Rajatavan Rajatanavin Minister of Health. Along with Dr. Surachet static Niramai Ministry of Health. Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Health press release. Has conducted surveillance and screening patients with respiratory Middle East since the beginning of the year, 36 of the negative results out today was the first confirmed victim Middle Eastern male about 70 years old admitted to the Institute Bamrasnaradura. The patients come from countries in the Middle East on June 15, 2558 for the treatment of heart disease. The private hospital in Thailand On arrival, he was admitted to a private hospital on June 15, 2558 and the hospital was following the instructions of the Ministry of Health and experts strict coordination with the Health Ministry in advance. With the patient and relatives did not mingle with others. Disease prevention and control measures Including a laboratory, according to the guidelines. And according to the World Health Organization He was later sent to the Institute Bamrasnaradura treatment.Admitted to the disease. And laboratory confirmation. Laboratory results from the second day of June 18, 2558 was positive patients are now treated at the Institute Bamrasnaradura stable condition. For disease following exposure of 59 people have now been conducted by the observed symptoms. Hospitals or symptoms at home. And staff will check for signs every day of the operation, according to the Infectious Diseases Act was signed in 2523, announced this disease is contagious and dangerous announced in the Royal Gazette. For the public Do not panic One patient who traveled from abroad. And we detected early. And be careful with it For example, in Malaysia, the Philippines, the patient quickly and prevent a wider outbreak. People take measures "to eat hot spoon in hand," patients with chronic diseases to avoid traveling to foreign countries with outbreaks. For the general public If traveling to countries where outbreaks have not asked to get in touch with patients.And back to Thailand within 14 days if fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, wear a mask to prevent disease. A doctor at the hospital. The cooperation of the public, we will control this disease. If you have questions or need more information contact us at. DDC 1422 free hotline 24 hours a day. ******************************* June 18, 2558

http://pr.moph.go.th/iprg/include/ad...dHot_new=73879

[Pathfinder]

Health | Thu Jun 18, 2015 8:07am EDT Related: WORLD, HEALTH, THAILAND

Thailand confirms first MERS case: health ministry

BANGKOK

Thailand confirmed its first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) on Thursday, becoming the fourth Asian country to register the deadly virus this year.

Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin told a news conference that a 75-year-old businessman from Oman had tested positive for MERS.

"From two lab tests we can confirm that the MERS virus was found," Rajata said, adding the man had traveled to Bangkok for medical treatment for a heart condition.
...
The health minister said 59 others were being monitored for the virus, including three of the man's relatives who traveled with him to Bangkok.
...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/18/us-health-mers-thailand-idUSKBN0OY1DK20150618

[Pathfinder]

Thailand confirms first MERS case as outbreak spreads ? UN health agency

19 June 2015 ? Thailand has confirmed its first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, in a male traveller from Oman, and the World Health Organization (WHO) today is urging countries in Southeast Asia to step up vigilance and review preparedness to respond to the disease.

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told reporters today at the UN press briefing in Geneva that on 15 June, Omani man presented himself to physicians, who detected his symptoms and isolated him in hospital and ran tests.

Three of his family members had also been isolated, according to Mr. Lindmeier. In addition, 59 people he had been in contact with ? including healthcare staff ? were being followed up on and had been quarantined for 14 days.

The spokesperson said the vigilance shown by the Thai authorities was exactly what it would expect in the current situation, and as the risk of individual travellers becoming infected and bringing the coronavirus back to their country could not be avoided, individuals had to stay vigilant.

Earlier this week, WHO declared that the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, outbreak that had spread from the Middle East to the Republic of Korea did not constitute a ?public health emergency of international concern? but was nonetheless a ?wake-up call? for all countries to be prepared for the unanticipated spread of serious infectious diseases.

Regarding the latest case, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO?s Regional Director for South-East Asia, said he had written to the Health Ministers of the 11 countries in the region to review and strengthen preparedness against MERS in view of the recent spread of the disease.

?Strong health systems using strict infection control measures would be the key to prevent the spread of the virus and protect health-care workers and others,? Dr. Khetrapal said.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is caused by a virus. Typical symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is common, but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, have also been reported.

The disease was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, from where the majority of cases have been reported since then, according to WHO. Since then 1,333 cases have been reported from 26 countries.

In response to a question about new cases of MERS in the Republic of Korea, the WHO spokesperson in Geneva said there had been one new infection case and one new death, bringing the total numbers for Republic of Korea to 24 deaths of 166 cases.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51200#.VYRNv_lViko

[Pathfinder]

Family Members of 1st Thai MERS Patient Undergoing Tests
...
Steve Herman
June 19, 2015 12:34 PM

BANGKOK?

Two more foreigners, relatives of Thailand?s first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, considered ?high risk contacts,? are being tested for MERS, public health officials said Friday evening.
...
Specimens collected from the patient?s son and nephew have been sent to a laboratory and results are expected to be known in 48 hours, Dr. Pasikorn Akrasewi of the department of disease control told VOA on Friday evening.

The man?s son, who has been caring for his father, is showing ?minimal symptoms,? while the nephew has been sneezing, said Pasikorn.

All of the man?s family members have been isolated at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, on the northern outskirts of Bangkok.
...
The concerned son has been difficult to keep apart from his father, who is reported in stable condition, a situation complicated because no hospital staff can speak Arabic to adequately explain to the family members the critical need to keep them separated while test results are awaited, Pasakorn said.

Bumrungrad International Hospital has confirmed that the elderly man was admitted the same day he arrived in Thailand to the highly regarded facility...

Bumrungrad officials on Friday said 58 staff members have been placed in quarantine for two weeks, but the hospital is continuing to operate normally.

A total of 85 people who were in contact with the Omani, including those on board his flight to Bangkok, are being monitored at hospitals or in their homes for any sign of illness, Thai authorities said.
...

http://www.voanews.com/content/family-members-of-first-thailand-mers-patient-undergoing-tests/2829349.html

[Commonground]

Thailand says 175 people had exposure to its MERS case

Sat Jun 20, 2015 6:13am EDT

Excerpt:
"The condition of the MERS patient is better overall," he said. "The chest x-rays show improvement and he can eat soft food." .

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/20/us-health-mers-thailand-idUSKBN0OZ09M20150620?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=twitter

[Pathfinder]

Oman Air press release:

Travel Advice
Updated on: 19 June 2015

Oman Air has been informed that one of its passengers has tested positive for MERS

Oman Air has been informed that one of its passengers has tested positive for MERS after seeking medical treatment in Thailand for an unrelated, pre-existing medical condition.

The passenger flew from Muscat to Bangkok on 15thJune 2015, aboard flight WY815.

Oman Air is liaising closely with all the relevant health and aviation authorities and has been advised that any RISK posed to the health of fellow passengers is minimal. However anyone who was aboard the same flight may, as a precaution, wish to visit a medical professional and request that their health status be checked.

If, within the next two weeks, any passenger from the same flight experiences severe acute respiratory illness, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath, we urge them to seek immediate medical advice.

Oman Air?s over-riding priority remains the safety and well-being of all its customers and staff.

We thank you for your co-operation.

http://www.omanair.com/en/oman-air-has-been-informed-that-one-of-its-passengers-has-tested-positive-for-mers

http://www.omanair.com/en/

[Gert van der Hoek]

Confirmed MERS cases in Thailand

23.06.2015 07:03




Two cases of MERS have been confirmed in Thailand.

Both patients are held in isolation at a hospital in Bangkok. No deaths have been reported due to the disease.

Screening for MERS has been stepped up at Suvarnabhumi Airport. All passengers from countries where infections have been confirmed will have to pass a thermoscan camera before entering Thailand and will face close monitoring after arrival. No new cases have been reported.

Travellers to Thailand are encouraged to keep updated on Statens Serum Institut and on Ministry of Foreign Affair's Rejsevejledning.



thanks to Crof -

[Gert van der Hoek]

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.

[alert]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/602812/mers-patient-much-improved

Mers patient 'much improved' 24 Jun 2015 at 19:05 848

The condition of the Omani man confirmed as Thailand?s first and only Mers case has improved considerably, the acting permanent secretary for health said Wednesday. Surachet Satitniramai said the 75-year-old...

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