YALA, 24 June 2015 – Medical personnel in the southernmost province of Yala have been educating Muslim Thais planning to go on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on how to safeguard themselves against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
As part of the MERS-CoV prevention, pilgrims are required to attend an orientation on MERS-CoV and other infectious diseases aside from having pre-departure medical checkups. Health volunteers and district hospitals have been tasked with monitoring the health conditions of those returning home from the pilgrimage. Anyone displaying respiratory problems will be immediately transported to a hospital.
According to Yala Hospital, the MERS-CoV prevention campaign for Muslim Thais must begin as early as possible, since more than 1,000 of them are expected to observe their religious rites in Saudi Arabia in August, where the fatal virus is quite rampant. Doctors say early symptoms of the MERS-CoV infection include high fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
Health personnel have also been applying the virus prevention measures to all people traveling from risk-prone countries. More personnel have been stationed at checkpoints to screen visitors for possible MERS-CoV.
