Thai Far South strictly prevents MERS cases after Hajj

YALA, THAILAND, September 30 (TNA) - Health authorities in Thailand's Muslims-predominant southern border region have been on alert to prevent any outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) from people who have returned home from this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Dr.Uthitsak Harirattanakul, Public Health Chief of Yala Province in the Thai Far South told journalists on September 29 that his province has strictly screened and inspected local Muslims returning from the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Uthitsak affirmed that his province's public health specialists have developed a practical screening system against MERS-CoV and have worked closely with local immigration authorities to screen and prevent suspected patients as of their arrivals at a local airport. Dr.Uthitsak explained once any suspected case is found from his/her symptoms, such as having a fever and a body ache, he or she must be quarantined for a thorough medical check-up with a confirmed result set within 24 hours. According to the provincial public health chief, there have been 16 suspicious cases in Yala so far, but none have been tested contracting MERS-CoV, with 11 of them confirmed to have been influenza cases instead. The provincial public health chief acknowledged that people who have passed the strict screening system and allowed to go back home must be under a close watch of doctors for additional two weeks and need to always wear their face masks and avoid their close contacts with other people, but they are 100 per cent safe from the communicable viral disease after the standard observation period. The provincial public health chief advised those who are under the observation period to immediately report themselves to local authorities if they experience lingering suspicious symtoms. The provincial public health chief revealed that 976 out of a total of 1,072 Thai Muslims who have traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj this year live in Yala. (TNA)