MFA urges Thais to follow up MERS-CoV updates closely

BANGKOK, June 22 (TNA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not stop Thais from visiting South Korea but advising them to closely follow up updates of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and advices of the Ministry of Public Health strictly. Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Vitavas Srivihok made the remarks on Monday, stressing that Thailand has effective measures to control the deadly virus and his ministry does not, thus, ban visits to South Korea by Thai nationals. Vitavas noted that his ministry has cooperated with Thai embassies, consulates-general, the Ministry of Public Health and other concerned parties to control MERS-CoV. According to the senior official, although the first MERS-CoV patient in Thailand, a 75-year-old Omani visitor, has been recovering, which is a positive sign, his ministry has continued to coordinate with both local and overseas agencies concerned, especially the Thai Embassy in Seoul, South Korea's capital, to keep vigilant against the fatal virus. The senior official insisted that Thailand's disease control measures have been strict and effective. Meanwhile, Bhuritt Maswongssa, Vice President of Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) in the Thai South, confirmed that there have been no reports on trip cancellations by international tourists in the southern Thai resort province after the first MERS-CoV patient in Bangkok was publicized last week, showing that Thailand’s tourism industry remains unaffected. Bhuritt revealed that about 55 per cent of hotel rooms in Phuket is currently occupied, which is a normal rate during the annual low season. The PTA vice president also expressed confidence over Thailand’s MERS-CoV control measures, acknowledging that the country's measures against previous epidemics, like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and others, have been proven effective. (TNA)