A 66-year-old European male, who arrived in Thailand from Africa on August 14, has been diagnosed with Mpox (monkeypox), but the results of further tests, to determine whether the infection is the more severe Clade 1B variant, are expected this Friday, said Department of Disease Control (DDC),
DCD Director General Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn told the media this afternoon that the news conference was not to confirm the discovery of the first case of Mpox Clade 1B variant in Thailand, although the patient did arrive from an African country in which that variant is spreading.
The patient, he said, developed blisters and had a fever the day after his arrival in Thailand on August 14th. He went to a hospital for tests, which were negative for the Clade 2 variant and produced an unclear result for Clade 1B, necessitating further testing.
Although the tests are not conclusive yet, Dr. Thongchai said the department has taken the precaution of tracking down the 43 passengers, both Thais and non-Thais, who were on the same flight.
He said the department will keep them all under observation for 21 days, to monitor for any developing symptoms. As for the infected patient, he said that, if the tests are positive, he will be the first confirmed case of Clade 1B in Thailand.
Dr Thongchai said that the Clade 2 variant was first detected in Thailand two years ago and, so far, about 800 cases have been recorded.
The World Health Organisation has recently declared Clade 1B a public health emergency of international concern. Two Mpox variants are currently spreading in Africa.
Clade 1, which is more severe and has a high mortality rate, is found in central and eastern Africa. Clade 2 is found in western Africa, which is less severe and has been spreading through several countries, including Thailand, according to Dr. Thongchai.
Main photo: DCD Director General Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn
