Precaution measures are being implemented in Thailand’s Deep Southagainst a possible outbreak of the deadly MERS virus, as more than10,000 Thai Muslim pilgrims plan to travel to Saudi Arabia for the hajjin September.
The three southernmost provinces are at risk for aMERS outbreak as many members of their community travel to the MiddleEast for work, tourism and religious rites most of the year.
Thelocal health unit in Songkhla is setting up a special team to monitorthose who return from the pilgrimage, sending a medical team to screenpassengers arriving at the airport and raising public awareness on theprevention and contraction of the disease.
Narathiwat airportauthorities confirmed no passenger traveling through the airport hasbeen found with MERS symptoms, and border patrol has been instructed tomonitor visitors traveling from Malaysia.
A separate room willalso be set up after Thai Muslims return from Hajj. They will bemonitored for 14 days up to a month to make sure they are safe frominfection. About 300 Thais will be the first to leave on a charterflight on August 16.-VNA
The three southernmost provinces are at risk for aMERS outbreak as many members of their community travel to the MiddleEast for work, tourism and religious rites most of the year.
Thelocal health unit in Songkhla is setting up a special team to monitorthose who return from the pilgrimage, sending a medical team to screenpassengers arriving at the airport and raising public awareness on theprevention and contraction of the disease.
Narathiwat airportauthorities confirmed no passenger traveling through the airport hasbeen found with MERS symptoms, and border patrol has been instructed tomonitor visitors traveling from Malaysia.
A separate room willalso be set up after Thai Muslims return from Hajj. They will bemonitored for 14 days up to a month to make sure they are safe frominfection. About 300 Thais will be the first to leave on a charterflight on August 16.-VNA
