Thailand prepared for emerging diseases, Ebola

NONTHABURI, THAILAND, November 10 (TNA) - Thailand has been prepared for handling emerging diseases, including the deadly Ebola virus. A national command committee tasked with preventing, controling and dealing with emerging diseases, set up by the Thai government, held a meeting at the Ministry of Public Health in Bangkok's neighbouring Nonthaburi Province on Monday, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Yongyuth Yuthavong, to discuss measures to handle, probably, the Ebola virus and other emerging diseases in the country. The discussion was focused on three main issues, including the Ministry of Public Health and The Thai Red Cross Society's joint assistance to Ebola-stricken African nations and measures to prevent any Ebola virus outbreak in Thailand, namely preparing level-4 biosafety labs to test Ebola virus with the internationally-recognised highest safety standard. The last issue discussed at the meeting was preparations for a meeting of ASEAN+3 Public Health Ministers, comprising those of Thailand and other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 10-nation bloc's dialogue partners--China, Japan and South Korea--to discuss joint measures to prevent and contain Ebola in the region. (TNA)