Thailand has reported its first confirmed case of a new and potentially deadly strain of Mpox outside of Africa. According to the Department of Disease Control, a 66-year-old European man contracted the disease after traveling to Bangkok from an unspecified African country. He began exhibiting symptoms the day after his arrival and was promptly hospitalized, where he was diagnosed with the Clade 1b strain of Mumps.
The outbreak of Mpox that started in the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year has resulted in at least 450 fatalities and has since spread to several neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. A new strain of concern, Clade 1b, has recently been detected in the eastern DRC and is moving into nearby nations.
Earlier, Sweden confirmed a case of Clade 1b, marking it as the first recorded instance outside of Africa. Officials noted that the affected individual had also traveled to an unidentified African nation.
This infection in Thailand marks the first verification of Clade 1b in Asia. Mpox, while not as easily transmissible as viruses like Covid-19 or measles, is spread through close contact, including sexual activities and close conversations. Scientists are worried about the spread of this new variant given its high mortality rate in certain regions of Africa, prompting the World Health Organization to declare it a public health emergency of international concern.
Vaccination opportunities remain scarce, especially in Africa, but millions of doses are set to arrive in the DRC in the coming week. Authorities in Thailand have identified approximately 43 passengers who were seated near the infected man and others who came into contact with him after his arrival. These individuals will be monitored for 21 days.
Additionally, travelers arriving in Thailand from 42 “risk countries” are required to undergo testing. Mpox symptoms include skin lesions and flu-like signs. While usually mild for most, it can potentially become deadly. The new strain has a fatality rate estimated at 4%. The tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa are the primary regions for mpox transmission, with thousands of cases recorded annually. A less severe strain known as Clade 2, which created a global public health emergency in 2022, is still prevalent in several countries.