Medical tourist brings Mers virus to Thailand
A medical tourist seeking treatment in Thailand has brought the deadly Mers virus to the country.
The 75-year-old man from Oman, who has not been identified, is now in quarantine at an infectious diseases facility outside Bangkok.
He had been seeking treatment for a heart problem in the capital.
Health officials have identified nearly 60 people who came into contact with the patient, including relatives who travelled with him on the flight over.
Mers – Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – has killed 24 people in South Korea.
Thailand is a popular destination for medical tourism, particularly with patients from the Middle East.
Thai health officials have urged the public not to panic.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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