The Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Thailand reported that the laboratory examination for a British traveler found that he was infected by influenza A virus with bacterial pneumonia, not related to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). This patient did not go to Wuhan, China.
          On January 21, 2020, Dr.Sopon Iamsirithaworn, Division of Communicable Diseases Director and Incident Commander of Emergency Operations Center (EOC) said that international news reported a 32-year-old British traveler got sick in Thailand and was rumored to have 2019-nCoV. Based on information verified by the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office on December 29, 2019, the British man was first admitted to a private hospital on Phi Phi Island, Krabi province. Laboratory examination found that this patient had an influenza virus infection with bacterial pneumonia. He was admitted to a private hospital in Phuket province on January 2, 2020. On January 5, 2020, his family requested the doctor to transfer him to be admitted to a private hospital in Bangkok. His medical condition has since improved.
          Before arriving to Thailand, the patient had no history of travelling to Wuhan, China. Thus, he did not meet the criteria for a patient under investigation suspected with 2019-nCoV infection. Dr. Iamsirithawon said that the MOPH, Thailand urged the public not to panic. Thailand has been intensively enhancing surveillance and closely monitoring the situation both inside and outside the country. Many tourists are anticipated to travel to Thailand during the Chinese New Year Festival, therefore the MOPH,
          Thailand has implemented surveillance and control measures to cover the following four aspects: 1) enhancing surveillance, screening travelers of direct flights from Wuhan, and placing travelers suspected with 2019-nCoV infection who arrive at the five international airports in isolation; 2) maintaining standardization of clinical management and diagnosis for patients under investigation (PUI); 3) strengthening the referral system in public and private hospitals of the PUI to isolation in negative pressure rooms; and 4) strengthening surveillance in communities popular for tourists across the country. These integrated measures can increase the ability to manage emerging infectious diseases effectively.
          If it is necessary for people to visit the affected 2019-nCoV areas such as Wuhan, it is recommended that everyone protect themselves by avoiding crowded places, avoiding markets that sell carcasses or live animals, and avoiding contact with patients who have respiratory diseases. If anyone has symptoms of coughing, sneezing, panting or runny nose after arriving from an affected area, please seek medical advice at the hospital immediately and inform the healthcare provider of travel history to China for further diagnosis. For any further information, please call the DDC Hotline 1422