Phuket woman found dead in room did not have TB, says Health Office

PHUKET: The woman found dead in her Patong room on Monday did not have tuberculosis (TB), said officials at the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) this week, despite news reports alleging otherwise.

The discovery of Thitirat Pholai’s body smeared with blood started rumors that the 33-year-old woman had suffered from TB.

However, the PPHO has no record of her name.

“By law, hospitals have to report TB patients to us,” said PPHO Chief Kajohnsak Kaewjarus.

“Ms Thitirat’s name is not in our records as a TB patient, and it is not in the Patong Hospital records either.”

“Ms Thitirat had a heart condition and pulmonary hypertension. At an advanced stage, these could have caused her to cough up blood.”

Ms Thitirat was at work last Sunday night. The following evening, a friend came to pick her up. When she did not respond, the friend asked the landlord to open the door and her body was found.

“To confirm the cause of death, we need to conduct an autopsy, but that won’t be done unless her family requests it. It can only be done in Bangkok, not in Phuket,” Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Akanit Danpitaksat said.

— Chutharat Plerin