The Public Health Ministry has warned of possible coronavirus outbreaks in areas with many Chinese visitors – such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket – after local transmission was confirmed in Japan, Bangkok Post reported.
The ministry issued the warning on Wednesday after a Japanese coach driver was reported to have been infected with the novel coronavirus while driving a Chinese tour group from Wuhan city.
The man had not been to Wuhan, where the deadly disease originated.
“An outbreak in Thailand is possible. As in Japan, it will start with local transmission on a very limited scale and later grow to the provincial level,” said Dr Tanarak Plipat, deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control.
“We are closely monitoring sensitive areas with large numbers of Chinese tourists such as Chiang Mai, Phuket and Bangkok, which are highly possible to be specific outbreak areas,” he said.
Read more at Bangkok Post
Photo: Associated Press