Situation Report on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome: MERS 22 June 2015

 Situation Report on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome : MERS

22 June 2015

 1. Latest situation on 21 June 2015

1.1. One infected case found in Thailand

1.2. 163 contact cases found

1.3. Update global situation on 19 June 2015; 1,338 infected cases and 475 deaths. In Republic of Korea; 169 infected cases and 25 deaths

1.4. A strict system of patient confinement and contact cases monitoring is carried out by the Ministry of Public Health. No additional infected person has been found. Thailand has measure for monitoring travelers from suspected countries with WHO standard.  If having any questions, please contact Department of Diseases Control (DDC) Hotline at 1422 for 24 hours.

 2. The Ministry of Public Health is preparing strong measures for screening traveler form suspected area and coordinating with private hospitals and their agencies for assistance

 Dr.Wachira Pengjuntr, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Public Health said there is still a chance for Thailand to find more cases for MERS since travelers are regularly coming from Middle East and  Republic of Korea for both tourism and medical tourism. Strict measures for disease prevention and control is needed. The Ministry of Public Health is coordination with private hospitals and their agencies for screening the patient before travelling to Thailand to prevent the infected patients from entering Thailand.

A meeting with private hospitals and clinics is conducted today in order to request collaboration in patient screening and optimizing the patient care system to meet the Ministry of Public Health’s guidance for infection prevention and control and also fully comply with The Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2523 (1980). If a suspected case has been found or the patient needs transportation, the Ministry of Public Health must be informed via DDC Hotline 1422 for 24 hours a day. The suspected patient must not travel with public transportation.

 As for the confirmed case, patient who is being cared in the separated room in Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute is getting better. The patient is able to eat and has no fever. The patient’s relatives, the three contact cases do not show and symptom and the laboratory test result show no infection. They are being cared in a separated room.

 3. Travelers returning from Middle East and Republic of Korea are under disease investigation.

 From 1 January to 21 June 2015, there are 53 travelers entering Thailand, 32  travelers from Republic of Korea and 21  travelers from Middle East. The test results of all 53 travelers are negative. For June 21^st, there are 5 people returned from Republic of Korea and 4 people returned from Middle East.

 4. Summary of DDC Hotline service: 1422

In the period of 24 hours on 21 June 2015, 131 calls were made and 79 calls are about MERS. The most frequently asked questions are MERS symptoms, how to prevent infections and what to do when travelling to MERS affected area.

5. Actions taken at Disease Control checkpoints.

- On 21 June 2015, the international disease control checkpoint has screened 29,339 travelers entering Thailand with automatic thermometer, no traveler with fever found.

- Airlines with direct flight from risk areas are requested collaboration in notifying the passengers of the screening measure at the airport and distribute health beware cards to passengers. Airlines are also advised to be strict with plane cleaning.

- Immigration is coordinated and will send any traveler from risk areas to the disease control checkpoints for screening before allowing entering the country.

- 4 Thermoscans are installed. Alcohol gel was placed more than 200 points all over the airport. Hygiene masks are distributed at information counters.

6. Recommendation on how to protect oneself from respiratory infections including MERS.

There is no risk of MERS infection for people in Thailand generally except those who travel to counties with endemic. The general practices for the people are:

1. Avoid close contact with respiratory disease patient or those who are with coughing or sneezing symptoms.

2. Follow the principle for good hygiene, consuming well-cooked and warm food, using a separate spoon for sharing food and washing hands often with soap.

3. When having these symptoms, fever, cough, sneezing, nasal discharge and sore throat, avoid close contact with others. Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when coughing or sneezing. Discard used tissue paper in a closed bin and wash hands. Wear hygiene mask. Go to see the doctor or health care personnel in the area and inform them any risk of exposure to the disease, for example, traveling from countries with MERS endemic or close contacting with suspected MERS patients.

4. People who has fever or cough but did not expose to the risk area has no need to overly concern. Go to see the doctor or  contact DDC Hotline 1422 for 24 hours. News and updates can be followed on Facebook page, “ไทยสู้เมอร์ส”.

************************