NONTHABURI — May 15, 2026 — Thailand's National Communicable Disease Committee (NCDC) has officially designated hantavirus infection as a dangerous communicable disease, establishing stricter surveillance protocols and requiring disease investigations for patients meeting the criteria within 12 hours, along with a mandatory 42-day quarantine for high-risk contacts, officials announced Friday.

The decision came from the NCDC's second meeting of 2026 held at the Department of Disease Control, chaired by Public Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Somruek Chungsaman. The committee had instructed the Department of Disease Control on May 8 to evaluate whether hantavirus should receive this classification under the Communicable Disease Act of 2015.

A panel of experts convened on May 12 and recommended the designation due to the disease's high severity, potential for respiratory droplet transmission, and evidence that certain strains can spread person-to-person, alongside growing international concern. The classification covers both Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS).

With this approval, hantavirus becomes Thailand's 14th disease on the high-alert list, granting disease control officers broad enforcement powers for isolation measures. Dr. Somruek outlined the clinical criteria: fever exceeding 38°C accompanied by symptoms including chills, muscle pain, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, plus at least one clinical abnormality.

Severe cases may manifest with coughing, breathing difficulties, pneumonia, lung fluid accumulation, shock, low blood pressure, bleeding, acute kidney failure, respiratory failure, and death. The rapid investigation and quarantine protocols aim to enable swift surveillance, prevention, and disease control.

Mehdi Taj, president of Iran's Football Federation, disclosed that Iranian national team players are still waiting for US visas to compete in the 2026 World Cup. Iran, previously one of twelve nations subject to US travel restrictions, continues to experience heightened tension with the United States while peace negotiations remain stalled, affecting numerous sectors. The latest development reveals that not only Iranian fans but the national football team itself has yet to receive any visas.

Thousands of supporters gathered for a send-off event in Tehran on Wednesday before the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, kicks off on June 11. Currently, the US and Iran are in a state of conflict, though both countries have announced a one-month ceasefire.

"The visa issue remains unresolved. We will have an important meeting with FIFA soon—they must provide certification for our team. We haven't been informed by the other side about who has received visas. So far, not a single visa has been issued," Taj stated.

According to the schedule, Iran will face New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, both matches in Los Angeles, and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle, with the team based in Tucson, Arizona.

The conflict has created uncertainty about Iran's World Cup participation. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated at the recent FIFA Congress in Vancouver that Iran would definitely compete in the United States. Notably, Iran was the only nation without representatives at that congress, as the Iranian Football Federation's delegation, including Taj, was denied entry at the Canadian border. The US cited the cancellation of Taj's visa due to alleged links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Iranian players would be welcomed to the tournament, though individuals with IRGC connections may face entry restrictions.

Zhao Lusi has once again delivered a picture-perfect moment, this time showcasing an elegant white handbag that's stealing the spotlight. The FUNDAO AVA mini butterfly bag represents the brand's refined "quiet luxury" aesthetic, featuring handcrafted construction and sleek streamlined design—the perfect accessory for elegant, gentle-spirited women. Since the photo circulated online, searches for the brand have surged, proving that Thai design talent deserves recognition. The "quiet luxury" style is both distinctive and unlikely to clash with others' outfits, making it irresistibly appealing. Zhao Lusi's styling wisdom shines through again, paired with an adorable dachshund plush toy that perfectly captures the hearts of fashion enthusiasts. Online commenters have praised not only Zhao Lusi's beauty and kindness but also her discerning eye, noting that her support for Asian original design truly demonstrates remarkable influence. Fans are encouraged to share their thoughts: Has this Thai-designed butterfly bag caught your eye? How would you rate this personal style look? Tag your friends in the comments if you'd like to purchase the same bag together! Share your excitement and repost this "trendsetting darling" Zhao Lusi's recommendation—wishing everyone impeccable taste and the perfect handbag in 2026!

The Gold Traders Association announced today, May 15, 2026, that gold prices have dropped sharply and continuously, urging quick decision-making. Ornamental gold is selling at 71,350 baht per baht weight, representing a 1,400 baht decline compared to the previous day's closing on May 14. According to the latest information released by the Gold Traders Association at 1:07 PM, gold bars are selling at 70,550 baht per baht weight in their 23rd announcement. For 96.5% ornamental gold, the buying price is 68,947.68 baht per baht and selling price is 71,350 baht per baht, while the global gold spot price (Gold Spot) stands at 4,616.00 US dollars per ounce. Gold traders predict the market will open tomorrow with gold prices potentially surging by 1,000-2,000 baht per baht, possibly breaking through the 80,000 baht level.

Thai commerce attachés in Xiamen achieved remarkable success in a live-streaming sales event on China's PUPU online supermarket app on May 10, generating 1.33 million baht in sales within just one hour by promoting Thai durian and mangosteen. The campaign is projected to reach a total of 100 million baht, with the DITP continuing to organize promotional activities across seven cities throughout China.

Sunanta Kangvalkulgit, Director-General of the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) under the Ministry of Commerce, revealed that DITP has instructed its overseas trade promotion offices and commercial attachés in major fruit export target markets to accelerate market expansion for Thai fruits in alignment with Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Suthammaphand's policy directives.

The Xiamen trade promotion office reported outstanding success from the promotional campaign on PUPU, with Chinese consumers showing strong and sustained interest in purchasing Thai fruits. Products featured in the promotion include durian, mangosteen, coconut, longan, pomelo, rice, bottled coconut milk, frozen durian, pork belly rice, instant noodles, tapioca flour, seasoned seaweed, and cosmetics. The platform also offered special Mother's Day discount coupons, with preliminary sales reaching over 280,000 yuan (approximately 1.33 million baht) in just one hour.

During the May 10 event, Xiamen's commerce attachés conducted live-streaming sales with key opinion leaders (KOLs), providing information about Thai fruit cultivation sources and quality standards while demonstrating how to peel durian and mangosteen to guarantee quality. They answered viewer questions about Thai fruit seasons and promoted Thailand's frozen and processed durian products. KOLs then rotated live-streaming Thai products throughout the day and continued promoting durian, mangosteen, and other Thai goods throughout the month.

The PUPU platform indicated that Thai products were already popular with consumers before the promotion, and the marketing campaign has further boosted consumer confidence in Thai goods. With this year's high-quality Thai durian harvest and satisfied customers, sales of durian, mangosteen, and other Thai products are expected to reach the campaign target of approximately 100 million baht upon completion.

PUPU is an online supermarket platform selling daily consumer goods, both imported and local products, through a mobile application with home delivery service. It operates across major cities in Guangdong Province and nearby areas including Xiamen, Fuzhou, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Sichuan, serving 30 million regular customer accounts, with 4.5 million accounts concentrated in Guangdong Province alone.

All seven Thai trade promotion offices in China are actively conducting promotional campaigns for Thai fruits during the current harvest season, working to reinforce Thailand's image as a producer of tropical fruits and boost consumer awareness and consumption of Thai fruits in the Chinese market.

Japan has unveiled its squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with injured Brighton forward Kaoru Mitoma notably absent from the roster. Japan will compete in Group F this summer alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. The Samurai Blue recently announced their tournament squad, which excludes Kaoru Mitoma, the Brighton striker who recently sustained an injury in a match against Wolverhampton. The complete squad includes: Goalkeepers: Tomoki Hayakawa, Sion Suzuki, Keisuke Osako; Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Shogo Taniguchi, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Go Itakura, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Hiroki Ito, Junnosuke Suzuki, Ayumu Seko, Yuganari Sugawara; Midfielders/Forwards: Daichi Kamada, Kaichu Sano, Ao Tanaka, Wataru Endo, Keto Nakamura, Ritsu Doan, Junya Ito, Takefusa Kubo, Yuito Suzuki, Ayase Ueda, Goki Okawa, Daisen Maeda, Kento Shioji, Keisuke Goto