Thailand took four days to confirm country's first Mers infection, raising fears virus could spread

Thai authorities took nearly four days to confirm the country’s first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers), the health ministry said today – a time lag likely to raise fears of a further spread of the deadly virus in Asia.

Thailand confirmed its first case of Mers on Thursday: a 75-year-old businessman from Oman. This comes just as an outbreak in South Korea, which began last month and infected 166 people as well as killed 24, appeared to be levelling off.

The businessman arrived in Bangkok on Monday for medical treatment for a heart ailment at a private hospital, Thai Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin said.

Rajata said 59 people who had come into contact with the infected man were being monitored, including fellow passengers on the man’s flight to Bangkok. Three of the 59 have been confined to hospital while the rest have been told to stay at home for 14 days.

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Rajata declined to identify the hospital and said the 75-year-old patient was transferred to infectious diseases institute in Bangkok on Thursday and put in quarantine.