Before you could spell P-A-N-I-C, health officials quickly put to rest rumors an Ebola-stricken traveler had entered Thailand.
Myanmar officials confirmed this afternoon that one of its citizens who was put into quarantine after transiting through Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday actually has Malaria, not Ebola.
The man had reportedly worked in Ebola-affected parts of West Africa and was traveling back to Yangon from Bangkok at about 8pm on Tuesday.
When he stopped at Suvarnabhumi, the man did not pass through the disease-monitoring center because he was a transit passenger, said Okart Karnkawinpong, deputy director-general of the Disease Control Department.
The man was sent to a hospital on arrival in Yangon for a deadly disease test because he had a high fever. Four of his friends, who had close contact with him, were also admitted despite showing no symptoms, according to Permanent Secretary for Health Narong Sahamethapat.
Narong added the ministry will discuss preventative health safety measures to prevent Ebola from entering through the airports, The Nation reported.
Photo: U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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