Today (29 June 2015), at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute, Prof. Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin, Minister of Public Health with Dr. Surachet Satitniramai, Acting Permanent Secretary of Public Health, Dr. Varabhorn Bhumiswasdi, Deputy Director-General, Department of Disease Control and disease surveillance team observe the process of ending 14 days admission for disease surveillance and home returning of the high-risk contact cases. They commended the medical doctors, nurses and every personnel for their efforts in taking good care of the patient and the contact cases. The airborne infection isolation room is also shown to the media.
Prof. Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin said, as of now, there are a total of 154 contact cases in Thailand, 36 of them are indentified as high-risk contact cases while the rest are low-risk contact cases. The high-risk contact cases consist of the Omani patient’s relatives, passengers sitting two rows both in front of and behind of the patient’s seat, medical personnel and taxi drivers. All of them are monitored under disease surveillance system and they are all well, no infection detected with laboratory test.
In the high-risk group, 20 contact cases including 14 passengers who boarded the same plane as the Omani confirmed case, 2 taxi drivers and 4 medical personnel have been monitored for 14 days on 29 June 2015. Twelve of them were English, Italian and Swiss and 8 were Thai. They were admitted for disease surveillance in Bangkok, Chonburi, Surat Thani, Krabi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Buriram. The remaining 16 high-risk contact cases are still in surveillance system until 14 days is due.
In addition, the high-risk group contact cases that have completed 14 days monitor will be thoroughly examined to ensure that they have no symptom of respiratory disease, e.g. fever, coughing, nasal discharge. Fluid from nasopharynx will be collected and sent for examination to ensure that they are not infected. As for the low-risk contact cases advised to stay isolated at home, they can now continue with their normal life.
The Omani patient is getting better and able to eat. His health conditions including respiratory tract symptoms and heart problems are getting better. Fluid from nasopharynx will be examined to ensure the disease will not spread before moving the patient from airborne infection isolation room to regular room. Three patient’s relatives are in normal condition and still in surveillance system until 14 days is due.
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