Mers spread seems to be contained
POST REPORTERS
All 175 people who were potentially exposed to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome are unlikely to have contracted the infection, Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin said yesterday.
His assurance was based on the results of tests for the Mers virus conducted on three relatives of the 75-year-old man from Oman who was confirmed as the first Mers case in Thailand.
The relatives were closest to the man as they travelled from Oman to Bangkok but so far tests have not shown positive and their general condition was fine, the minister said. They were the most likely to contract the virus, so chances were good that the other 175 people at risk will be free of the virus.
Dr Rajata yesterday visited Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute where the Omani Mers patient was being treated.
The patient’s condition had improved, he said. He had regained consciousness, was less dependent on the respirator, showed better lung X-ray results, and his appetite had increased.
Nakhon Ratchasima public health office chief Wichai Kattiyawittayakul said he had isolated three members of a Thai family who were on the flight to monitor their condition.
Dr Wichai said the three are a father, a mother and their 6-year-old son. The parents took the boy for treatment at Pak Chong Nana Hospital after he developed flu-like symptoms. Initial diagnosis showed he had a normal flu, but health authorities followed strict preventive guidelines by isolating them and their blood samples will be sent for testing today.