Possible Mers case in Yala

Relatives have taken a 59-year-old woman who recently returned from Saudi Arabia to hospital in Yala after she showed possible Mers symptoms. Health officials continue to closely monitor pilgrims returning from the Haj.

While many suspected cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) turn out to be influenza or a similar illness, Thai officials are rightly following World Health Organisation advice and monitoring those with possible symptoms of the disease.

Fortunately, new cases in Saudi Arabia, site of the Haj which ended last week, have dropped in recent weeks after an earlier surge,  much of it linked to a large hospital outbreak in Riyadh.

Meanwhile in our region, the Philippines has had two confirmed cases and one supected case involving a Saudi man visiting the country who died on September 29.

Haj pilgrim in Yala 'may have Mers'

POST REPORTERS

A Yala woman suspected of having contracted Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) has been hospitalised after returning from the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.

Parudoh Sengsor, 59, of tambon Lammai in Yala's Muang district, was admitted to Yala Hospital Tuesday after showing flu-like symptoms, a source at the Yala health office said.

Ms Parudoh had a high fever, cough and breathing difficulties after returning from Saudi Arabia on on Friday. Her relatives decided to contact the provincial hospital to seek treatment for her.

Most Mers cases have been diagnosed in the Middle East, mainly in Saudi Arabia. The Mers virus belongs to the family of viruses known as coronaviruses, which include both the common cold and Sars, or severe acute respiratory syndrome. Sars killed some 800 people in a global outbreak in 2003.

Only one Mers case has been diagnosed in Thailand. In July, an Omani man was successfully treated for the disease in Bangkok.

Phuket airport meanwhile has introduced tough screening measures, including quarantining possible victims, for pilgrims returning from the haj in Mecca.

Noppadon Phaibunsin, director of the 11th Disease Control Office, overseeing Phuket and nearby provinces, said the Public Health Ministry is cooperating with all airports, particularly in the South, including Phuket, Hat Yai and Narathiwat, in screening people returning from Saudi Arabia.

This year, 10,400 people registered to participate in the haj. Pilgrims who went to Mecca are all expected to return to the country by the end of the month, Mr Noppadon said.

สามารถฝึกอ่านออกเสียงและดูคำแปลได้ที่ : http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/721580/possible-mers-case-in-yala