First coronavirus infection detected in Thailand

The first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or coronavirus, MERS, has been detected in Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health reported Thursday.

Health authorities did not give out details of the infection but said precautions have been taken against a possible outbreak in the country in the coming weeks.

Patients with possible symptoms will be monitored along with those who had recently visited the Middle East.

The disease first originated in Saudi Arabia, from where it was carried by travelers to the U.S. and Europe.

Currently there is a coronavirus outbreak in South Korea, the biggest one outside of the Arab world, which has claimed 23 lives and infected 165 people so far.

The virus, which can cause severe infections in the respiratory tract, leading to pneumonia and kidney failure, was first detected in 2012 and responds to no vaccine or medical remedy.