14 Thai Haj Pilgrims Quarantined For Suspected MERS Infection

Narathiwat, Thailand Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Fourteen Thai pilgrims, who were among the first batch to arrive in their homeland from the haj pilgrimage, were not allowed to return home to meet their family members and relatives after arriving at the Narathiwat Airport. Instead, they were taken to the Narathiwat Rachanakarin Hospital for medical observation and to be quarantined for suspected infection of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). They were among 287 Thai haj pilgrims who were the first group to arrive at the Narathiwat Airport at 1.30 pm Thursday on the Jeddah-Narathiwat flight TG8803. Their arrival was closely monitored by the Narathiwat Province Health Office before they were allowed to leave the airport. For safety reasons, all the pilgrims were required to wear face masks since leaving Jeddah. Narathiwat Province Health Office Chief, Dr Sanpon Ritiraksa said the screening team also included staff of the Narathiwat Rachanakarin Hospital and doctors from the Chulaborn navy camp. Pilgrims found to have high fever would be taken to the hospital for observation, he added. -- BERNAMA