IN PHOTO: Crew members of Thai Airways prepare to disinfect the cabin of an aircraft of the national carrier at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, June 18, 2015
Crew members of Thai Airways prepare to disinfect the cabin of an aircraft of the national carrier at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, June 18, 2015. Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom

Thailand's public health minister confirmed the first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, in the country on Thursday after discovering a man who came from Oman has been infected. Health officials refused to reveal the name of the man.

On Monday, a man who came from Oman was diagnosed with MERS and was treated in a private hospital in Bangkok, according to Thai public health minister Rajata Rajatanavin. “The private hospital has already been on alert about (MERS) so the staff had isolated the patient and three of his family members from the start,” said Dr. Rajatanavin.

Dr. Rajatanavin refused to reveal the name of the man who has been diagnosed with MERS. Aside from the infected man, three members of his family who arrived with him are being quarantined.

The WallStreet reports there are 59 people quarantined including two taxi drivers, hotel and medical staff who had contact when the man arrived. Health officials also contacted the passengers who were seated two rows in front and behind the unnamed man.

“The high-risk group is the passengers who were seated in front and behind him on the plane,” said director of the Bureau of Epidemiology Dr. Tanarak Plipat. According to CNN, Thailand is the 26th country with confirmed MERS cases. The first case of the disease was detected in Saudi Arabia.

Currently, South Korea is tightening its quarantine as the death toll due to MERS has risen to 24 on Friday, making the total rise to 166. There are more than 6,700 patients who are isolated from their homes.

World Health Organisation described the MERS outbreak in S. Korea as a wakeup call. WHO said the number of new cases “appears to be declining,” which means that the outbreak could be slowing down.

WHO also called the attention of people in Middle East to stop drinking camel wee as the corona virus is believed to be originated from animals particularly on camels. Those infected by the virus from the past had contact with camels.

In some parts of Middle East, people believed camel urine is a cure for any illness. Based on a passage of Haddith, Prophet Muhammad drank urine.

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