Thailand's first MERS-CoV patient steadily recovering

BANGKOK, June 22 (TNA) - Thailand's first confirmed patient of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has been steadily recovering, while his three relatives and a Thai woman from Buriram Province in the Thai Northeast--who had contacted with the 75-year-old Omani male patient--have not shown any suspicious symtom but they have remained under a 14-day quarantine. Dr Jariya Saengsajja, Director of the state-run Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, told journalists of the update on Monday morning, saying that the Omani patient could now breathe and eat by himself, while his heart and lungs showed normal conditions and his lung inflammation had been much relieved. Dr. Jariya said latest tests found his three relatives did not carry MERS-CoV, but they have remained in their isolation ward until they meet the compulsory 14-day quarantine period. Dr. Sompong Jarungjittanuson, Buriram's public health chief, reported that a woman who had boarded the same plane with the Omani patient has also been under a quarantine for a week and she has not had a high temperature, coughed, sneezed or shown any suspicious symptom. Dr. Sompong stressed that the woman will be isolated for another week to meet the 14-day standard quarantine, acknowledging if she is fine throughout the quarantine period, she will be released. Meanwhile, Wisutr Buachum, Director of the state-run Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s northern branch in Chiang Mai Province, revealed that the number of tourists planning trips to MERS Cov-hit South Korea has dropped by 30-40 per cent over the past weeks because of concerns over the deadly virus there although the South Korean government has affirmed that it has implemented measures to bring the spreading virus under control. Wisutr assessed that the negative impact on South Korea's tourism should continue for a few months, after which the situation should then be returning to normal. According to the TAT director, there have been more foreign tourist arrivals in Thailand instead although the domestic tourism atmosphere is not much lively due to the low tourism season currently. (TNA)