19 People in Thailand Tested Negative for MERS

BANGKOK, June 21 (TNA) The Medical Sciences Department of Thailand said on Sunday that all the 19 people coming into close contact with a Middle East man who had been confirmed infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) are tested negative. The Department’s director- general Dr. Apichai Mongkol said that 19 samples including 13 from Bangkok, four from Nakhon Ratchasima and two from Khon Kaen collected from people suspected to contract MERS were tested negative. Thailand has confirmed its first case of MERS which has already killed 24 people in South Korea. The 75-year-old patient from Oman is now in quarantine at the state-run Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute. Nearly 60 people, including three relatives of the patient, who came into contact with him have been identified. Dr. Jariya Saengsajja, director of the Institute, said that the condition of the patient improved on Sunday as he could breathe by himself, eat soft food while his heart and lung showed signs of improving. Thai Public Health Minister Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin and Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul are due to travel to Suvarnabhumi International Airport later on Sunday to step up measures in screening arrivals at the airport, aimed at preventing the disease from spreading. Preventive measures have also been increased at all the three border checkpoints in the southern province of Songkhla. Dr. Paitoon Wongsakul, a doctor attached to Sadao border checkpoint, which is one of the three, said that officials would screen thoroughly on visitors, especially those from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and South Korea before entering Thailand. ( TNA)