All 30 suspected monkeypox cases have been cleared of the disease by lab tests, but the Disease Control Department will continue to trace any more suspected cases, the department’s director-general, Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong, said today (Monday).
He disclosed that the 30 suspected cases were among 42 people who were found to have been in close physical contact with the two confirmed monkeypox cases in Thailand.
The first case is a 27-year-old Nigerian, who is now in Cambodia and is being treated after refusing treatment in Thailand. The second case is a Thai man, who has a history of engaging in unprotected sex with a male foreigner. He is now being treated at Bangkok’s Vajira Hospital. Of the 42 people, three have tested negative and completed their 21-day quarantine period.
Dr. Opart said, however, that the department has sought cooperation from other organisations and agencies in its efforts to trace more people who may have had physical contact with the two confirmed cases.
He noted that the World Health Organisation had said that mass vaccination against monkeypox infection is not necessary, but people at high risk of infection, such as frontline medics and laboratory staff, may need to be inoculated.
According to the latest information on the monkeypox situation worldwide as of yesterday, there have been 22,816 cases in 76 countries, with the highest incidences in the United States (5,189), Spain (4,386), Germany (2,595), the UK (2,469) France (1,955).
