Phuket medical experts work to rule out Ebola in death of Brit

PHUKET: A Disease Prevention team from the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) is working to rule out Ebola as the cause of death for a British expat recently returned from Nigeria.

Martin John Roberts Clark, 68, returned to Phuket on October 7. He was found dead in his condo on Thursday afternoon.

“Our team was there yesterday to collect blood and mucus samples from the room. Those samples were sent to the Medical Sciences Center in Thalang,” Dr Kajohnsak Kaewjarus, chief of the PPHO, told the Phuket Gazette.

“We did not receive a report from our officers at Phuket International Airport that a passenger with Ebola symptoms had come through the airport on that day.”

The PPHO expects to receive test results today.

Mr Clark’s body was transferred to Patong Hospital.

Governor Nisit Jansomwong noted that every public health office in Thailand was aware of the Ebola issue, especially in tourist destinations like Phuket.

“Staff at airports check everyone before they are allowed into the country. If anyone is suspected of carrying the virus they are put on a watchlist,” he said.

Those on the watchlist must present themselves to a doctor every day for 21 days before they are allowed to leave the country (story here).

“Our officers are working hard to help Patong Hospital confirm the cause of death. We expect to have results this evening,” said Governor Nisit.

In the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s latest Ebola update, it reports: “There were a small number of cases reported in Nigeria and a single case reported in Senegal; however, these cases are considered to be contained, with no further spread in these countries.”

For up-to-date information about the Ebola virus, click here.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong