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Kerry Sue Newman from Brighton, East Sussex is quarantined in Thailand after it was discovered she sat behind a man who had MERS on a plane

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Kerry Sue Newman stands with nurses while in quarantine after she was found to have sat near a MERS victim

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Miss Newman's trip to Thailand is not turning out quite how she expected it to

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The Brighton woman has described how it feels like a Thai version of big brother.

She said: 'The first night was somewhat traumatic as I realised I was practically trapped in this one room that is virtually like a cell. Yet I have done absolutely nothing wrong to be locked up and imprisoned like this.

'Also there is a camera in my room so I am being watched, I feel like I am in some sort of strange Thai style Big Brother.

'Once I relaxed and realised that this is for the good of the rest of Thailand, and in fact the rest of the world, everything became a lot easier.'

Miss Newman had taken a six month sabbatical to work and train at a martial arts camp in Thailand but will have to remain in quarantine until June 29 as the virus has a two week incubation period.

Mers is a flu-like condition with symptoms similar to SARs, and its first recorded case in a human was reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

It can cause symptoms such as fever, coughing, breathing difficulties, chest pains, nausea, headaches and pneumonia.

Miss Newman said: 'When the authorities came to collect me, I thought they were kidding and could not quite believe my bad luck.

'I was originally scheduled to fly on June 6 but had to change my flight to the 15 - so it is just sod's law that I was on this flight with this man.

'I see it as fate. I am clearly supposed to be in isolation for ten days for whatever reason.'

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said they are aware of Miss Newman's case.

Dr Richard Pebody of Public Health England said: 'Although any transmission risk is very small, as a precaution, we contact UK passengers on a plane who are in the vicinity of a case to follow-up, provide information and reassurance.'

Despite being quarantined, Miss Newman remains upbeat about her situation and on her first evening in the hospital went looking for a beer to help her relax.

But she said she was 'caught in the act whilst trying to leave, and had to make up some story about needing milk in order to help me sleep'.

She has contacted her family in the UK and said: 'My family were worried initially but I explained the situation and the embassy has also contacted them, so they are fine. In fact my dad laughed and said 'it's about time they locked you up.'

'Whilst in quarantine I have been doing yoga and I am also practising Qi Gong and meditation. I've been dancing in my room to stay active.

Apparently the risk is not that high, as I am a fit, healthy woman in my prime, and the disease tends to attack the elderly, and those with a weak immune system.

'They found me very quickly and have been looking after my every need.

'They installed a television into my room without me even asking, plus supplying me with lots of fresh fruit and good vegetarian food, plenty of fluids, including juices and lots of milk - basically I am on an involuntary detox.'

Miss Newman was seated two rows behind a man who was found to have contracted the MERS virus (file

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3137479/British-holidaymaker-quarantined-Thailand-sitting-plane-deadly-MERS-virus.html