THAILAND REPORTS ASIA’S FIRST MPOX CASE

August 22, 2024August 22, 2024

Read Time:1 Minute, 0 Second

Agency Report

Thailand confirmed Asia’s first known case of a more severe strain of mpox in a patient who had traveled from Africa, on Thursday.

The 66-year-old European arrived in Bangkok on August 14 and was hospitalized with symptoms of mpox.

The Department of Disease Control reported that laboratory tests confirmed the infection as mpox Clade 1b.

READ ALSO :

JUST IN: KENYA POLICE OFFERS CASH REWARD FOR ESCAPED SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER

“Thailand’s Department of Disease Control wishes to confirm the lab test result which shows mpox Clade 1b in a European patient,” the department said in a statement, adding that the World Health Organisation (WHO) would be informed of the development.

“We have monitored 43 people who have been in close contact with the patient and so far they have shown no symptoms, but we must continue monitoring for a total of 21 days.”

Anyone travelling to Thailand from 42 “risk countries” must register and undergo testing on arrival, the department said.

Mpox cases and deaths are surging in Africa, where outbreaks have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda since July.