BANGKOK 25 June 2015 – No additional MERS cases have been found in Thailand, says the Ministry of Public Health. Deputy Minister of Public Health Somsak Chunharas and ministry executives inspected the contagious disease screening point at Don Mueang Airport on Wednesday to determine the airport’s preparedness in preventing a spread of MERS. According to the Minister, an average of around 30,000 travelers depart to and arrive from South Korea through Don Mueang Airport each month, 70% of them are Thai and the rest South Koreans.
As a precaution, airport authorities have arranged a separate parking spot for aircraft used for such flights. Screening has also been carried out on travelers, and a 14-day monitoring period has been implemented. No suspicious cases have been found among the travelers so far. Meanwhile, Department of Disease Control Director-General Sopon Mekthon said the ministry has issued an additional announcement on the pocrdure for those returning from areas of outbreak who find themselves with fever, as well as those who have been in close contact with such persons. The announcement was aimed at facilitating clear working guidelines and at allowing efficient control of the disease.
Dr. Sopon also disclosed that the condition of the MERS patient from Oman, the first and only case in Thailand so far, has been improving steadily. All three persons put under monitoring for having been in close contact with the patient have not been diagnosed with the virus.
