US admires Thailand for preparations against Ebola

NONTHABURI, THAILAND, October 17 (TNA) - The United States has praised Thailand for well-prepared measures against any outbreak of the fatal Ebola virus even though no Ebola victims have been found in the Kingdom so far. Thai Deputy Public Health Minister Dr. Somsak Choonharat told journalists of the upbeat on Friday, after his meeting with senior US Embassy officials, including Minister Counsellor and Charge d'Affaires Patrick Murphy, First Secretary of the Economic Section for Health issue Eric Frater and US Agency for International Development (USAID) Director of Public Health Office Mike Burkly, at the Ministry of Public Health in Bangkok's neighbouring Nonthaburi Province to discuss public health cooperation between Washington and Bangkok. Dr. Somsak acknowledged that Murphy expressed his appreciation to the Thai well-prepared measures to prevent and cope with Ebola, presented by Thai Public Health Minister Dr. Rajata Rajatanawin at the Global Health Security Meeting at the White House in Washington last month. Under the measures, Thai health authorities have closely and strictly monitored risk groups of people, including those who have returned from Ebola stricken countries at Thai airports and ports, as well as suspected Ebola patients at public and private-run hospitals and at communities where foreigners stay. The Geneva-based World Health Organisation (WHO) reported, meanwhile, that there have been 8,997 confirmed and suspected Ebola patients in seven countries, 4,493 of whom have died. The Thai deputy public health minister suggested people who return from Ebola-hit areas and have high fever within 21 days not to take Aspirin or Ibuprofen, which may cause bleeding, but seeing doctors immediately for proper treatment. According to the deputy public health minister, the US senior officials also praised Thailand's well progress on the development of the national public health system and cooperation with the United States and the International Community on disease control, vaccine research and development projects and other public health issues. (TNA)