Yesterday the Wuhan authorities reported that the entire city of Wuhan housing 11 million inhabitants will be quarantined stopping all transportation as the virus has spread to at least 6 other countries including Thailand. Singapore Airlines’ budget carrier Scoot announced that it had suspended its daily flights to China’s Wuhan after authorities locked down the city at the center of a fast-spreading virus outbreak.
The coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, has now killed 17 and infected more than 570 people. The first case was reported in Decvember 2019. On 13 January 2020 the first case was reported from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Thailand. As 22 January 4 cases has been reported from Thailand.
The Ministry of Public Health Thailand implemented measures for screening travelers from Wuhan city on 3 January 2020 at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang, Phuket and Chiang Mai airports, and activated enhanced surveillance at public and private hospitals. Since the identification of the case on 5 January 2019, Thai health authorities have taken the following measures:
Eight febrile travelers were detected by a thermo-scan at Suvarnabhumi Airport. They have been isolated and tested, and none of them have been confirmed with 2019-nCov infection.
A total of 182 contacts were identified and are being monitored. The contacts were fellow passengers as well as members of the same tour group. Only one contact developed respiratory symptoms and the PCR test of throat swab yields positive for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
Risk communication guidance has been shared with the public and a hotline has been established by the Department of Disease Control for people returning from the affected area in China with related symptoms.
The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand has international-standard diagnosis and medical care, and is closely coordinating with WHO and related departments for the potential response measures.