Malaysia steps up screening for Mers at entry points

Kuala Lumpur

MALAYSIA has stepped up health screenings at all entry points into the country, after the first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) was reported in neighbouring Thailand last week.

The South-east Asian nation, which shares a 650 kilometre land border with Thailand, has already begun monitoring body temperatures at the airports, Deputy Health Minister Hilmi Yahaya said in a statement to state news agency Bernama. "Now, we are going further to include all entry points," he said. Visitors entering the country would also be briefed on precautions to be taken to avoid being infected with the disease, the minister said. There have so far been no cases of Mers reported in Malaysia.