Mers to be declared a dangerous communicable disease

A tourist wears a face mask at Suvarnabhumi Airport after South Korea issued a warning to tourists about an outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) virus. (Bangkok Post file photo)

The Public Health Ministry is likely to declare the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) virus a dangerous communicable disease.

Dr Surachet Satitniramai, acting permanent secretary for health, said on Thursday the ministry agreed with the advice of experts to declare Mers a dangerous and infectious disease.

Anyone infected with the virus must report to health officials as stated in the 1980 Dangerous Communicable Disease Act, Dr Surachet said.

Mers will be added to the country’s list of dangerous infectious diseases in addition to cholera, smallpox, yellow fever, plague, severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and Ebola.

The declaration, which will be made in a couple of days, will take effect after it is published in the Royal Gazette.

Once published in the Royal Gazette, health officials will have the authority to quarantine people suspected of contracting the disease to prevent the spread of the virus.

The ministry will meet with relevant agencies to discuss measures to control an outbreak of Mers.

People arriving from countries where the disease has spread, such as the Middle East and South Korea, are required to notify health officials about their travel records. Anyone suspected of having contracted the disease must report to authorities, he said.

Anyone who fails to report to authorities, refuses to be quarantined or denies treatment will face a fine of up to 2,000 baht.

South Korea reported 14 new cases of Mers on Thursday, including the first pregnant woman infected by the potentially deadly virus, AFP reported.

The new diagnoses brought to 122 the total number of confirmed cases, while the number of fatalities remained at nine with no new deaths in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said.