BANGKOK, Jan 20 (TNA) — The first Chinese visitor found with the new coronavirus was completely cured of the disease and returned home on Jan 18, according to the Department of Disease Control.
Dr Sophon Iamsirithawon, the department’s disease control director, said the tourist from Wuhan city of China arrived on Jan 8 with a high fever. She was treated at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute.
The patient was completely cured and free of the disease, so doctors discharged her from the institute on Jan 18. She took a plane back to China at night of the same day, Dr Sophon said.
As the World Health Organization had not banned travel to the countries where such patients were found and more tourists would arrive for the Lunar New Year, the Ministry of Public Health intensified its surveillance measures, Dr Sophon said.
Air passengers from Wuhan were being screened and health officials were looking for a possible outbreak in crowded areas and tourist destinations, he cited.
Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute was ready to treat patients with the coronavirus-related pneumonia in its negative pressure rooms until their full recovery, so people should not be worried, Dr Sophon said.
He advised people avoid contacts with animals, animal markets, crowded areas and people with respiratory symptoms. Anyone who had a fever, coughed, and had a runny nose, breathing difficulty or sore throat should see a doctor right away, he said. (TNA)
