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Thailand confirms first Mers case | Thailand confirms first Mers case |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thailand has confirmed its first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers), the deadly virus that has killed 24 people in South Korea. | Thailand has confirmed its first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers), the deadly virus that has killed 24 people in South Korea. |
The man - whose name has not been released - is now in quarantine at an infectious diseases facility outside the capital Bangkok. | The man - whose name has not been released - is now in quarantine at an infectious diseases facility outside the capital Bangkok. |
Thai health officials said the 75-year-old from Oman was seeking treatment for a heart problem in Bangkok. | Thai health officials said the 75-year-old from Oman was seeking treatment for a heart problem in Bangkok. |
Nearly 60 people who came into contact with the patient have been identified. | Nearly 60 people who came into contact with the patient have been identified. |
That includes three relatives who travelled with him on the plane. | That includes three relatives who travelled with him on the plane. |
Thailand is a medical tourism hub, popular with patients from the Middle East. | Thailand is a medical tourism hub, popular with patients from the Middle East. |
"We advise the public not to panic because the patient and his family members were separated since the beginning," Thailand's Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin said. | "We advise the public not to panic because the patient and his family members were separated since the beginning," Thailand's Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin said. |
"Our system is ready and we are monitoring the cases closely." | "Our system is ready and we are monitoring the cases closely." |
South Korea on Friday reported the 24th death from Mers and said there were now 166 people infected. There are thousands still in quarantine. | |
The number of new cases in recent days has been low, supporting claims by officials that infections are slowing. | |
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Margaret Chan, who is in Seoul, expressed optimism over South Korea's ability to contain the outbreak saying it was now "on a good footing" after an initially slow response. | |
"The Mers outbreak will be brought under control... although it may take a little longer than everyone would like to see," said Ms Chan. | |
The outbreak in South Korea began in May with a 68-year-old South Korean man who had travelled to the Middle East. | |
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) | Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) |
Mers: The new coronavirus explained | Mers: The new coronavirus explained |
How South Korea is coping with outbreak | How South Korea is coping with outbreak |