Yala hospital screening hajj attendees for MERS
With nearly 1,000 Muslim pilgrims newly returned from attending the hajj in Mecca, Yala Provincial Hospital has stepped up screening for possible Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
Hospital deputy director Dr Nittaya Phuwananon said two instances of MERS had been suspected so far, but one of those patients – admitted two days ago with high fever – had tested negative.
The second patient was admitted at 1am on Monday and lab results are awaited, she said.
Nittaya said screening measures began as soon as people arrive at the hospital seeking assistance. They’re asked at reception whether they have high fever of any other flu symptoms.
If they do and have recently been travelling in the Middle East, they are to be immediately quarantined, tested and monitored.
Southern Yala province is home to 991 people who attended the hajj in Saudi Arabia. Most were asked on arrival at Yala International Airport whether they had fever.
