Thailand confirms first case of Clade 1 mpox
Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has confirmed the first case of the mpox clade 1b in the country. This is the second case reported outside of Africa and the first in Asia.
In a statement, the ministry reported that the patient, a 66-year-old man, had recently traveled to the African continent, which is facing an epidemic of this variant. He returned to Thailand on August 14 and, the following day, developed a fever and other symptoms compatible with mpox, and was hospitalized for treatment.
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A health surveillance team counted 43 people who had close contact with the patient, including people who had also been to the African continent, and were advised to monitor, over the next 21 days, for the appearance of symptoms such as fever, rash and enlarged lymph nodes. If any signs of the disease appear, the Thai ministry recommends seeking medical attention.
In the statement, the ministry highlights that at least six African countries have registered an outbreak of mpox, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Ivory Coast.
“Passengers who have been to these countries will have their body temperature measured and will be questioned about observed symptoms, especially skin rashes,” highlighted the Thai government.
Travelers with symptoms consistent with mpox, according to the note, will be isolated and quarantined. Health authorities will then collect samples to confirm or rule out cases, in addition to additional physical examinations. Since 2022, Thailand has confirmed 827 cases of mpox, 140 of them in 2024 – all, so far, of the Clade II variant.