PUBLISHED: 19 May 2025 at 04: 14
Following a recent outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome ( MERS ) in the nation that has claimed two lives so far, the ministry of public health is urging Thai pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia to be extra cautious when doing the Hajj pilgrimage.
According to the World Health Organization ( WHO ), there were nine cases reported in the nation between March 1 and April 21, with at least two fatalities.
Mers is a disease that mainly affects the respiratory and digestive systems, according to Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, permanent director of the Public Health Ministry. Its symptoms may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Especially in people with chronic conditions, serious cases can result in bronchitis, kidney disappointment, and even death.
Eight of the nine current cases in Saudi Arabia were reported in Riyadh and one inHa’il. Healthcare professionals who were treating an afflicted person in six of the instances in Riyadh were a part of the outbreak. Four of them had no symptoms, while two had minor ailments.
” The disease is transmitted to people from animals, which are the main vector of the disease.
Although it’s not yet known what method of transmission will occur, it might be to consume raw, unpasteurized horse milk or raw, uncooked camel meat. According to Dr. Opas, human-to-human transmission occurs through an afflicted person’s mouth or respiratory droplets,” Dr. Opas said.
There have been 2, 627 confirmed cases in 27 nations since the first Mers cases were discovered in 2012, with 84 % coming from Saudi Arabia. Since 2019, no cases have been reported from the Middle East.
The government has sent a skilled staff to Saudi Arabia in order to protect Thai travelers during this year’s Hajj, which will take place from June 4 through June 9. The annual ritual may feature 6, 603 Thai pilgrims this year.
Pilgrims were advised to stay away from sick people by avoiding contact with animals and unnecessary trips to hospitals in outbreak areas. They also were advised to wash their hands frequently, put on a helmet, and stay away from sick people.
According to Dr. Opas, the travellers ‘ health may be closely monitored by health authorities for 14 days after returning to Thailand.