Thailand has reported its first MERS case, the World Health Organization reported. This is after a 75-year-old patient from Oman flew back to the country for treatment.
On June 18, a hospital in Thailand has reported the case of patient zero after testing MERS CoV-positive. The patient first reported the development of symptoms on June 10, when he was admitted at a hospital in Oman. He then flew to Bangkok with three of his family members without declaring fever on June 15 to get further treatment.
He and his family members are currently in isolation by a health care facility and are in stable conditions.
Reuters reported that 177 people in Thailand were exposed last week.
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) originally came from camels, transferred to humans. Transmitted through coughing, the disease can be easily acquired through close contact with the infected person.
MERS-CoV-infected people will develop illnesses such as coughing, shortness of breath and high-fever. WHO stated, however, that there are no specific early symptoms for MERS-CoV.
The first country in Asia that was majorly afflicted by MERS-CoV was South Korea, which reported 166 cases and 25 deaths due to the virus. The country announced the outbreak in May, after a number of people in Seoul acquired the disease from an elderly man who came from the Middle East. The government ordered to stop classes in schools to prevent further transmission.
According to WHO, "immunocompromised persons" and people with "diabetes, renal failure, and chronic lung disease" are more prone to this virus. As stated in their website, these people should "avoid close contact with animals, particularly camels, when visiting farms, markets, or barn areas where the virus is known to be potentially circulating."
"People should avoid drinking raw camel milk or camel urine, or eating meat that has not been properly cooked," the website added.
To avoid acquiring the virus, food hygiene practices should also be observed.
