Thailand on high alert against Ebola virus, H1N1 pdm09 flu

BANGKOK, July 23 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Public Health, has been on high alert against the Ebola virus and the H1N1 pdm09 human flu strain, which have been spreading in foreign countries. Dr. Asadang Ruayajin, Deputy Director-General of the ministry's Department of Disease Control and the department's spokesman, told journalists of the move on July 22, affirming that there has been no Ebola virus and H1N1 pdm09 human flu case in Thailand so far. Dr. Asadang said that his department has been on high alert against both the Ebola virus and the H1N1 pdm09 human flu, as ordered by new Public Health Minister Anuthin Charnveerakul. Dr. Asadang explained that intensified preventive measures have been strictly implemented at all Thai immigration checkpoints based on international standardized principles, including those at nationwide airports, as well as land and marine border passes. Besides, his department has kept monitoring closely updates of both the Ebola virus and the H1N1 pdm09 human flu cases in affected foreign areas. For the Ebola virus, which has been declared by the Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) after its first outbreaks in Congo in August 2018, the spokesman stated that not a single case of the deadly disease has been detected among 318 passengers flying to Thailand from areas at risk overseas during January 1-July 8, 2019. As WHO has not issued any official notification prohibiting people from travelling to areas affected by the Ebola virus, the senior Thai official advised that people who are necessary to travel to such the areas at risk should refrain from having any close or direct contact with infectious cases, or refrain from consuming or having any close contact with wild animals, especially monkeys and bats, while suggesting them to immediately see their doctors if they have a high fever, headache, sore throat, vomit, diarrhea and muscle pain, the suspected symtoms of the fatal disease. For the H1N1 pdm09 human flu, which is not a severe communicable disease, the senior Thai official, however, stressed on advising people to refrain from having any close contact with infectious cases and avoid being in crowded places, while staying at home and having a sufficient rest if they find themselves having suspected flu symtoms. Meanwhile, WHO has reported that as of mid-July 2019, there have been 2522 confirmed cases of the Ebola virus in Congo, 1698 of them have died. (TNA)