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Update of latest MERS situation in Thailand
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     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (January 26) closely monitoring an additional case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by Thailand, and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks of the places of visit.
 
     According to the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, the case affects a male national aged 71 from Oman who travelled to Bangkok, Thailand, on January 22 and was hospitalised. Contact tracing is underway.
 
     This is the second MERS case in Thailand.
 
     To date, 1 627 cases have been reported to the WHO, including at least 586 deaths. Of note, 1 413 were confirmed in nine Middle East countries, including 1 277 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 76 in the United Arab Emirates, 28 in Jordan, 13 in Qatar, seven in Oman, six in Iran, four in Kuwait, and one each in Lebanon and Yemen.
 
     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry, and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus," a spokesman for the CHP said.
 
     "We will maintain close communication with the WHO and relevant health authorities," the spokesman added.
 
     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the pages below for more information and health advice:
 
* The CHP's MERS page (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26511.html);
* MERS statistics in affected areas (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/distribution_of_mers_cases_en.pdf);
* The MERS page of the DH's Travel Health Service (www.travelhealth.gov.hk/english/popup/popup.html);
* The CHP Facebook Page (www.fb.com/CentreforHealthProtection);
* The CHP YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/c/ChpGovHkChannel); and
* The WHO's latest news (www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/coronavirus_infections/en).
 
     Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/26551.html).

Ends/Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Issued at HKT 10:01

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