BANGKOK – Thailand has seen its first case of human-to-human transmission of the new coronavirus inside the country, a health official said on Friday.
The case is a Thai taxi driver, said Tanarak Pipat, deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control.
“The Thai person who got infected does not have the record of traveling to China and it is likely that he was infected from a sick traveler from China,” Tanarak said.
Thailand’s previous cases have all been either Chinese tourists or Thais who had visited China, where the virus originated.
Five cases in total were confirmed, the remainder are Chinese nationals.
Dr. Sukhum Kanchanapimai, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, revealed that they have found 5 more patients, bringing the total to 19 patients with the new strain of a Coronavirus. 7 people have returned home to China, and 12 remain hospitalized, all of which have improved.
Dr. Sukham added that the driver stopped work immediately and his family members and relatives have been tested and none found to have the virus. They feel confident the situation is under control.
This is a developing story and updates may be made often.
Source: Reuters, Khaosod, Thairath
