World
Thailand Reports New Case of Deadly Mpox Variant Clade Ib
Thailand has reported a new case of the deadly Mpox variant Clade Ib, raising concerns about public health and safety. Stay informed about the implications and measures being taken to combat this emerging threat.
Thailand Confirms New Case of Deadly Mpox Variant
Health officials in Thailand announced on Thursday that they have confirmed a case of the highly concerning variant of mpox, which prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global health emergency. This marks the second occurrence of this new and more lethal variant being identified outside of Africa.
The recent announcement is expected to raise alarm regarding the potential for wider transmission of the virus, particularly following the detection of this variant in Sweden just last week. Prior to these developments, the outbreak had largely been confined to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The variant of the mpox virus identified in these latest cases is classified as Clade Ib. Health authorities are especially alarmed by this variant due to its significantly higher mortality rate of 3 percent, in stark contrast to the 0.2 percent death rate noted during the 2022 outbreak.
The previous outbreak was primarily driven by a variant known as Clade IIb, which was predominantly transmitted through sexual contact. During that period, men who have sex with men were identified as the most at-risk group; however, interventions such as behavioral modifications and vaccination programs effectively mitigated the spread of the virus.
In contrast, Clade Ib appears to be spreading mainly through heterosexual contact, according to epidemiologists. Additionally, another subtype, Clade Ia, has been noted to spread through household interactions and exposure to infected animals, along with sexual transmission. So far, young children have been identified as particularly vulnerable to this subtype.
Thai health officials revealed on Wednesday that the individual infected with this variant is a 66-year-old European man who has been working in an African nation currently experiencing an outbreak, though officials chose not to disclose the specific country. Fortunately, the man is not reported to have severe symptoms, offering some relief amid growing concerns.