Ministry warns of Mers threat

The Ministry of Public Health is urging Thais who are headed for Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to exercise extra caution, following a recent outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) in the country that has claimed two lives to date.

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Nine cases were detected in the country between March 1 and April 21, with at least two fatalities reported, says the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, said Mers is a disease that primarily affects the respiratory and digestive systems and symptoms may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, kidney failure, and even death, particularly among individuals with chronic conditions.