On Thursday, Thailand reported Asia’s initial case of a new, more lethal mpox strain in a European patient from Africa.
The 66-year-old man, who arrived in Bangkok on August 14, exhibited symptoms and was promptly hospitalised.
Laboratory tests confirmed he was infected with mpox Clade 1b.
“The Department of Disease Control has confirmed the presence of mpox Clade 1b in this patient,”said a department spokesperson.
They added that the World Health Organization (WHO) would be notified of this case. “We are closely monitoring 43 contacts of the patient; they currently show no symptoms but will be observed for 21 days.”
Travelers from 42 “risk countries” must now register and undergo testing upon arrival in Thailand, the department announced.
Mpox outbreaks are intensifying in Africa, with cases reported in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda since July. The WHO has declared a global health emergency due to this new variant, urging increased vaccine production.
Mpox, transmitted by infected animals and through close human contact, causes fever, muscle aches, and large skin lesions. The new Clade 1b strain is noted for its higher mortality rate of about 3.6%, particularly affecting children, according to the WHO.
Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, head of Thailand’s Disease Control Department, emphasized that while mpox is serious, it spreads
