22-8-2024 (BANGKOK) Thailand has announced the first confirmed case of a new, more virulent strain of mpox in Asia. The patient, a 66-year-old European traveller who had recently arrived from Africa, has thrust the kingdom into the spotlight of an emerging health concern.
The Thai Department of Disease Control (DDC) revealed on Thursday that laboratory tests had conclusively identified the presence of mpox Clade 1b in the patient. This particular strain is known for its increased lethality and transmissibility, raising alarm bells among health officials across the continent.
“We can confirm that the European patient has tested positive for mpox Clade 1b,” stated a DDC spokesperson. “This information will be promptly relayed to the World Health Organization as part of our commitment to global health surveillance.”
The patient, who landed in Bangkok on 14 August, was swiftly hospitalised upon displaying symptoms characteristic of mpox infection. In response to this case, Thai health authorities have implemented rigorous contact tracing measures.
“We have identified and are closely monitoring 43 individuals who had close contact with the infected traveller,” the DDC explained. “While no symptoms have manifested in these contacts thus far, we will maintain vigilant observation for the full 21-day incubation period.”
In light of this development, Thailand has bolstered its entry protocols. Travellers arriving from 42 designated “risk countries” are now required to register and undergo testing upon arrival, reflecting the nation’s proactive stance in containing potential outbreaks.
The emergence of this case in Thailand comes amid a surge of mpox infections and fatalities across Africa. Since July, outbreaks have been reported in several nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The situation has prompted the World Health Organization to declare a global public health emergency, urging an increase in vaccine production to combat the spread of this new variant.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral disease transmitted primarily through close physical contact. It manifests with symptoms including fever, muscular aches, and distinctive boil-like skin lesions. The Clade 1b strain, responsible for the recent surge in cases, carries a mortality rate of approximately 3.6%, with children at heightened risk, according to WHO data.
Dr Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, head of the Thai DDC, offered a note of cautious optimism, stating, “While we must remain vigilant, it’s important to note that mpox transmission requires much closer contact than COVID-19, which should limit its potential for rapid spread.”
This case marks a significant milestone in the global tracking of mpox, a virus first discovered in 1958 in research monkeys in Denmark.
