Thailand has become the first country in Asia to detect a new mutated strain of the mpox virus, as the pathogen spreads to new regions following the World Health Organization’s declaration of the outbreak in Africa as a global health emergency, Bloomberg reports.
The patient, a 66-year-old European male, arrived in Bangkok last week from Africa and tested positive for clade Ib, according to the Department of Disease Control within Thailand’s Health Ministry.
The patient exhibited symptoms associated with mpox and was admitted to a hospital on August 15, just a day after his arrival in the capital. Laboratory tests confirmed the variant as clade Ib on Thursday, and Thailand plans to report the findings to the World Health Organization.
In response to the emerging threat, Thailand, which relies heavily on tourism, will enhance surveillance and screening measures at all international entry points, including Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Travelers arriving from 42 countries experiencing mpox outbreaks will be required to register on the health ministry’s online application before their departure and undergo health screenings upon arrival in accordance with global protocols.
The new variant, which has a fatality rate of 3%, has been spreading across several African nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it has reportedly killed more than 500 people. The latest data suggests that children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, with fatal cases exceeding 60% among patients under the age of five.
Unlike the earlier, milder strain that emerged in 2022 and predominantly affected men who have sex with men, the current variant is spreading through various forms of sexual activity and other close physical contact. In an effort to mitigate the virus’s spread, Asian countries, including China, India, and Pakistan, have recently increased surveillance, urging travelers from affected regions to self-report any symptoms and alerting hospitals to remain vigilant for suspected cases.
Thailand has announced its plan to quarantine any traveler displaying mpox symptoms. Visitors from countries experiencing outbreaks will undergo temperature checks, assessments for rashes, and inquiries regarding their travel history. Additionally, the government is preparing a 60-room quarantine facility to isolate patients should a widespread outbreak occur.
Since 2022, Thailand has reported around 800 cases of the mpox clade II variant and is eager to contain the virus as it approaches the busy tourist season, expecting millions of holidaymakers to visit the country. Tourism plays a vital role in Thailand’s economy, accounting for about 20% of total jobs and roughly 12% of the nation’s $500 billion economy.
Foreign arrivals have surged by about 33% this year compared to the same period in 2023, exceeding 22.5 million as of August 18.
