Public health officials confirmed Sunday that eight cases of the Chinese coronavirus have been confirmed in Thailand.
The eight patients — seven Chinese nationals and one Thai — have been found in Thailand since earlier this month, and since then Thailand has maintained its dubious distinction as having the most known cases outside of China, where reports of the disease have surged to more than 2,000 infections and 80 deaths.
Disease Control Department deputy Director-General Kajornsak Kaewjaras said that five of the eight have recovered and been discharged from hospital to return home, despite the fact that there is no specific cure to the virus.
All of the patients discovered in Thailand were infected by the life-threatening virus, which is similar to SARS, outside the country, according to Kajornsak.
In China, where more than 20 million people have been effectively isolated in and around the city of Wuhan, health officials said Sunday that the ability of the virus to infect is strengthening, and the outbreak remains in its early stages.
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