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Deadly virus alert issued for Chonburi
Published on 04/07/2013
» There has not been even one case of the coronavirus detected in Thailand, yet Chonburi health officials have been ordered to be on high alert for the deadly disease, particularly in Pattaya and other tourist centers. Pradit Sintavanarong, health minister, said patients with serious respiratory symptoms in all provinces will be monitored for Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus (MERS-CoV), and that hospitals are prepared to receive suspected cases. Likewise, the Public Health Ministry is ready to deal with the disease. Thai Muslims and Arabs are most at-risk for contracting the SARS-like coronavirus. According to the World Health Organization, more than 70 such cases and 39 deaths have been reported—mostly in Saudi Arabia and also in Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy. Consequently, anyone traveling through those countries—including those planning to visit Mecca for the Hajj–may be vulnerable.