Body of man found dead on Thai train tests positive for COVID-19

Photo: PR of State Railway of Thailand / Facebook
Photo: PR of State Railway of Thailand / Facebook

A 57-year-old Thai man found dead on a train that left Bangkok bound for the Deep South posthumously tested positive today for COVID-19.

Forensic results on Wednesday found that Anan Saho, whose body was found aboard a southbound train the day before, had been infected with COVID-19, according to Thakoon Intarachom of State Railway of Thailand. 

He became the 13th and latest known victim of the coronavirus, though the total number is likely higher.

Anan departed train No. 37 from Bangkok’s Bangsue Station on Monday and was en route to Su-ngai Kolok in Narathiwat. His condition became poor early Tuesday morning and he was found dead on the train when it reached Tab Sakae station in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Anan had reportedly returned from recent travel to Pakistan. He possessed a fit-to-fly health certificate prior to his arrival in Thailand, which has become mandated but criticized as a useless burden that doesn’t signify a traveler is uninfected. 

State railway rep Thakoon said that he showed no symptoms prior to boarding the train.

He added that the railway ordered all passengers and staff aboard the train to quarantine for 14 days. The train has been removed from service for two days of disinfection. 

Thailand on Wednesday reported another 120 cases and two deaths, bringing the official number to 1,771 cases and 12 deaths in the kingdom since January. 

Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the man as the 12th known to have died from infection. He was in fact the 13th.

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