Alt 15 people who were potentially exesed to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome to have contected the infection Public Health Minister RajataRajatanavin said yesterday. His assurance was based on the results of tests for the Mers virus conducted on threetelatives of the 75-year-old man from oman who was confirmed as the first Mers case in The relatives were closest to the man as they travelted from oman to Bangkok but so far tests have not shown positive and their general condnion 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 Mens patient was being treated. The patient's had improved, he said. He had regained consciousness, was less dependent on the respirator, showed better lung X-ray results, and his had increased, NakhonRatchasima public health office chief WichaiKattiyawittayakul said he had isolateu three members of a Thai family who were on the flight to monitor theircondition Drwichai said the three are a father, a mother and their 6-year-old son. The parents took the at Hospital arter he developed fu.ikesymptoms boy for treatment diagnosis showed he had a normal flu, but health authorities followed strict preventive guidelines by isolating them and their blood sampleswill be sent testing today. plane has been Meanwhile, the woman from Buriram who sat near the omani man on the locates and quarantined. Surachaipiragsa reports