A Thai woman, returning from Qatar, has become the sixth confirmed monkeypox case in Thailand, according to Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department.

He said yesterday (Friday) that the 21-year-old native of the north-eastern province of Maha Sarakham worked at a traditional Thai massage parlour in Qatar. She developed blisters on her genitals on August 10^th and flew back to Thailand on August 21^st. She then immediately returned to her hometown and went to see a doctor at the district hospital the following day.

The doctor thought she might be infected with monkeypox and took specimens, which were sent to the Medical Sciences Department in Bangkok for analysis, which subsequently confirmed the monkeypox infection.

Dr. Opart said that 28 people were found to have been in contact with the infected woman, but only four of them were classified as being at high risk. All 28 have, however, been advised to monitor their condition.

The five previous confirmed monkeypox cases include a Nigerian man in Phuket who left Thailand and was treated in Cambodia, a 47-year-old Thai man in Bangkok who had history of having sex with men, a German tourist in Phuket, a Thai woman in Bangkok and a Thai woman who returned from Dubai.