Thailand's only case now declared free of deadly virus

chibumga izuzu

June 29, 2015 6:35 PM

The 75-year-old man, who had traveled to Bangkok for treatment for a heart condition and was then diagnosed with the virus, will remain in quarantine for the time being.

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Thailand is now MERS-free as an Omani man who became the country's first case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has been declared free of the deadly virus.

According to Thailand's health ministry, the 75-year-old man, who had traveled to Bangkok for treatment for a heart condition and was then diagnosed with the virus, will remain in quarantine for the time being.

Surachet Satitramai, acting permanent secretary at the Public Health Ministry told Reuters that the move was to see if his other health conditions, including his heart condition, will have any effect on his recovery.

He further said three of the man's relatives who traveled with him to Thailand were also free of the virus.

However, 36 people who were exposed to its single patient were still being monitored.

Thailand confirmed its first case of MERS earlier this month, becoming the fourth Asian country to register the virus this year.

Meanwhile, South Korea, which is battling the largest MERS outbreak outside Saudi Arabia, has recorded 31 deaths from the virus thus far, while the total number of cases stands at 181.

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