Thailand has reported its first confirmed case of a new strain of Mpox, potentially dangerous, outside of Africa. The patient is a 66-year-old European male who arrived in Bangkok from an undisclosed African country. He began showing symptoms the day after his arrival and sought medical attention promptly. Subsequent tests confirmed that he was infected with the Clade 1b strain of Mpox.
This strain is a cause for concern, especially following an outbreak that originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year, resulting in over 450 fatalities. The virus has since spread to other countries in the region, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Recently, Clade 1b was identified in the eastern DRC and is now crossing into neighboring areas.
Sweden recently reported the first case of Clade 1b outside Africa, which involved an individual who had recently traveled to Africa. The case in Thailand marks the first confirmed instance of this strain in Asia.
While Mpox does not spread as easily as other viruses like COVID-19 or measles, it can be transmitted through close physical contact, including sexual contact, skin-to-skin touch, and close conversations. The emergence of this variant has raised alarm among health experts due to its significant mortality rate in certain African regions, prompting the World Health Organization to classify it as a global public health emergency.
Vaccination efforts are primarily directed at high-risk groups and those who have had close contact with infected individuals. Although vaccines are limited in Africa, millions of doses are expected to arrive in the DRC soon. In Thailand, health authorities have identified about 43 people who were seated near the patient on his flight and will monitor them for 21 days. Additionally, travelers from 42 designated “risk countries” will be required to undergo testing upon arrival.
Mpox typically presents with skin lesions and flu-like symptoms, and while it tends to be mild for most people, it can have serious consequences. Current estimates suggest that the fatality rate for this new strain could be as high as 4%. Historically, the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa have been incubation zones for thousands of mpox cases each year.
A milder variant known as Clade 2, which caused a global public health emergency in 2022, continues to affect various nations.