Condition of MERS-CoV patient in Thailand remains stable

BANGKOK, January 26 (TNA) - The condition of an Omani patient suffering from the fatal Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Thailand is now stable, but having a fever at the temperature of 38 degrees and rapid breathing. Dr. Amnuay Gajeena, Director-General of the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Disease Control, told journalists of the update on January 25, saying that the patient has remained at a quarantine unit of the Bamrasnaradura Institute, under his ministry, on the outskirts of Bangkok. Dr. Amnuay stated that the 71-year-old Omani MERS-CoV patient, the second one in Thailand after the first patient found in mid-2015, has fully-recovered, arrived in Bangkok before dawn last Friday and suffered from the deadly MERS-CoV about a week before travelling to Thailand. Dr. Amnuay revealed that doctors at the Bamrasnaradura Institute have provided him with oxygen but the patient can still talk normally. A total of about 40 people had contacted with the elderly patient, including his son who has also been under quarantine at the institute and two taxi drivers who are currently under medical care. Doctors have ensured those having close contacts with the MERS-CoV patient will not spread the deadly disease to others as Thailand has high medical standards; so, people should not be panic. According to the senior health official, the Omani MERS-CoV patient reportedly refused to take a treatment in his homecountry before travelling to Thailand and concerned Thai authorities are probing whether the report is true. (TNA)