Thailand has confirmed the first known case of a new, deadlier strain of mpox in Asia, in a 66-year-old European patient who traveled from Africa. The patient arrived in Bangkok on August 14 and was hospitalized with mpox symptoms. Laboratory tests confirmed the patient was infected with mpox Clade 1b, a strain that has caused surging cases and deaths in Africa.
The Department of Disease Control has monitored 43 close contacts, with no symptoms reported so far, but will continue monitoring for 21 days. Travelers from 42 “risk countries” must register and undergo testing on arrival. The World Health Organisation has declared a global public health emergency, urging vaccine production to increase. Mpox causes fever, muscular aches, and skin lesions, with Clade 1b having a 3.6% fatality rate, particularly affecting children. Thai health officials note that mpox is less likely to spread rapidly than Covid-19 due to the close contact required for transmission.
