Thailand Reports Suspected Mpox Case Linked to New Variant

Thailand Reports Suspected Case of Mpox Linked to New Variant

On Wednesday, health authorities in Thailand announced a suspected case of mpox, potentially linked to a new and more virulent strain of the virus. If confirmed, this case would mark the first instance of this variant in Thailand, following a recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) that categorized the disease as a global health emergency just one week prior.

The individual involved is a 66-year-old European man who has been working in an African country currently experiencing an outbreak of mpox. While health officials have not disclosed the specific country, they noted that the man, who also has a residence in Thailand, is not exhibiting severe symptoms at this time.

Authorities are currently awaiting test results, expected by Friday, to ascertain whether the man has contracted Clade Ib, the variant of the mpox virus that has been linked to an increase in cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The patient traveled from Africa to Thailand, with a layover in a Middle Eastern nation before arriving on the evening of August 14. According to reports, he developed a fever and noticed small skin lesions the following morning. Subsequent tests conducted at a local hospital confirmed the presence of mpox.

In response to the situation, Thailand’s Department of Disease Control has proactively identified 43 individuals who were in close proximity to the patient, including fellow passengers seated near him on the flight. These individuals will undergo monitoring for a period of 21 days, although none have shown any symptoms as of yet.

Since the onset of the mpox outbreak in 2022, Thailand has documented over 800 cases of the disease, previously known as monkeypox. Mpox primarily spreads through contact with infected animals or humans, as well as through the consumption of contaminated meat. Additionally, the virus can be transmitted through sexual contact or from a mother to her fetus during pregnancy.

Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn, the general director of the Department of Disease Control, emphasized that mpox is not as easily transmissible as Covid-19, stating, “You have to have very close contact.”

Mpox, which is endemic to Central and Western Africa, experienced a rapid global spread in 2022, affecting over 70 countries and prompting the WHO to declare it a global health emergency in July of that year. Since then, nearly 100,000 cases have been reported across 116 countries.

The previous outbreak was driven by the Clade IIb variant, which was predominantly spread through sexual contact, particularly among men who have sex with men. However, changes in behavior and vaccination efforts have significantly mitigated the spread of the virus.

In contrast, Clade I—currently spreading in Congo—is associated with a higher fatality rate of approximately 3 percent, compared to the 0.2 percent observed during the 2022 outbreak. Furthermore, Clade I is characterized by its varied transmission routes and vulnerable populations. Epidemiologists note that Clade Ia spreads through household contact and exposure to affected animals, in addition to sexual contact, with young children being particularly at risk. Clade Ib, on the other hand, appears to primarily transmit through heterosexual sexual contact.

Contributions to this report were made by Ryn Jirenuwat.