Twelve of the first group of 78 Thais evacuated from Sudan, who arrived in Bangkok Thursday night, have been diagnosed with a respiratory disease, with one is suffering from stress and eight others are having difficulty of sleeping, according to Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong, permanent secretary of public health.
All the returning Thais were screened upon arrival and 12 of them, six males and six females, had coughs, sore throats and runny noses. Specimens were sent for lab tests for 24 types of respiratory disease, including COVID-19 and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome).
None of them were found to be infected, but eight are suffering with general respiratory diseases. Dr. Opart said that, for healthy people, the symptoms will disappear after sufficient rest.
He said that one 45-year-old woman is highly stressed, because she is worried about her Sudanese husband, who is still in Sudan, adding that the woman, who arrived with four children, will be sent to a mental health centre for treatment for about two weeks.
He added that eight returnees, who lived near the scene of the fighting, have had difficulty sleeping.
The second group of Thais is expected to arrive in Bangkok tonight (Friday) on a Royal Thai Air Force Airbus 340-500.
