Coronavirus: Doubts over Thai man's cause of death

There are doubts about the cause of death of a Thai man who would be the first death from the corona virus. Dengue was initially diagnosed but the health ministry has launched an investigation because the symptoms contradict data revealed by Thiravat Hemachudha, head of the Center for Emerging Diseases at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

The man died Saturday night after his organs failed. He was first treated for dengue at a private hospital at the end of January and then taken to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi, because he had also contracted the corona virus.

Thiravat believes that the health ministry has not properly assessed the patient's condition and his illness: "His two lungs were affected by pneumonia, indicating that he contracted Covid-19 from the beginning and not dengue fever."

Dengue was first diagnosed in a laboratory test, but it seems that this is not correct. As a result, the correct prevention measures were not taken and a nurse in the hospital became infected with Covid-19. She contracted severe pneumonia, Thiravat writes on his Facebook page.

The deceased man was a salesman who also supplies products to a King Power duty-free shop at a branch in Samut Prakan. Since he tested positive for the Covid-19 virus, other employees have been medically examined and the location has been closed for disinfection.

Source: Bangkok Post