BANGKOK, 24 June 2011 – The Ministry of Public Health confirms that no pathogenic strains of E. coli are found in faeces of a foreigner who died in the northeastern province of Udon Thani on 20 June 2011.
Permanent Secretary Medical Doctor Paijit Warachit disclosed that laboratory tests on the faeces of the dead male foreigner left on his underwear and floors showed they contained only non-pathogenic strains of E. coli.
Nevertheless, Medical Doctor Paijit said the Department of Medical Sciences also collected faeces from his body for a lab test to confirm the result once again. The result is likely to come out on Friday.
Regarding a test on his blood and urine, the permanent secretary pointed out that Plesiomonas Shigelloides, which could cause diarrhoea, was found in the dead foreigner. The bacteria usually live in aquatic animals such as shell and freshwater fish.
Medical Doctor Paijit also noted that the surveillance on people who have touched the dead foreigner had reported no unusual symptoms so far.
