|
 In a statement, the ministry said it had been in touch with all
175 and had instructed them to stay away from public spaces and for
medical personnel to monitor their health.
Also on Saturday, South Korea's health ministry said that no new
cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) had been recorded,
the first time in 16 days, and there were no more deaths.
The deadly disease, which was first identified in Saudi Arabia, has
killed 24 people and infected 166 people in South Korea since it was
detected there last month.
On Friday, Thai health minister Rajata Rajatanavin told reporters
the chances of a MERS outbreak in Thailand like the one in South
Korea were low.
"Health authorities were able to isolate the patient very quickly
before he could travel any further and infect others. The patient
spent most of his time in hospitals," said Rajata.
 The virus was first detected in Thailand in a 75-year-old man from
Oman who traveled to Bangkok for treatment of a heart condition.
On Thursday, the man was moved from Bumrungrad International
Hospital to an infectious diseases facility.
Three relatives of the man are also being kept in isolation rooms at
the institute and had tested negative for the virus, Surachet
Satiniramai, acting permanent secretary at the health ministry, said
on Saturday.
[to top of second column] |
"The condition of the MERS patient is better overall," he said. "The
chest x-rays show improvement and he can eat soft food." .
Thai authorities have said it had taken nearly four days to confirm
the illness.
Doctors at Bumrungrad Hospital said on Friday that it quarantined 58
staff members but that there was no sign of panic and no patients at
the hospital had asked for transfer to other facilities.
MERS was first identified in humans in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and the
majority of cases have been in the Middle East. Isolated cases have
cropped up in Asia before South Korea's outbreak.
(Reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomyat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre;
Editing by Richard Borsuk)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
