Thailand is the 1st country outside China to report novel coronavirus

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews

Thailand health officials reported (computer translated) a laboratory confirmed novel coronavirus case on Sunday, the first in Thailand and the first reported outside of China.

The Ministry of Public Health reiterated that there is no coronavirus outbreak in Thailand.

Thailand has implemented surveillance measures for screening patients traveling from Wuhan City since January 3 at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Don Mueang, Phuket and Chiang Mai, as well as surveillance at public and private hospitals. Twelve patients have met the criteria with most being infected with seasonal influenza. 8 patients were treated with a high fever, detected by a thermo-scan at Suvarnabhumi Airport and admitted to the negative pressure disease separation room Bamrasnaradura Institute on January 8, 2020.

The coronavirus positive patient is recovering from the illness according to Thai officials.

The World Health Organization, in a statement today said the possibility of cases being identified in other countries was not unexpected, and reinforces why WHO calls for on-going active monitoring and preparedness in other countries. WHO has issued guidance on how to detect and treat persons ill with the new virus.

The genetic sequencing shared by China enables more countries to rapidly diagnose patients.