The first confirmed case of a new, potentially lethal strain of Mpox outside Africa has been identified in Thailand. According to Thailand’s Department of Disease Control, the 66-year-old European male contracted the virus after traveling to Bangkok from an unidentified African country. He started exhibiting symptoms the day after his arrival and promptly sought medical attention, where it was confirmed that he had the Clade 1b strain of Mpox.
This outbreak of Mpox, which originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last year, has resulted in approximately 450 fatalities. The virus has since spread to neighboring countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, which were not previously affected by Mpox.
In recent developments, the more concerning Clade 1b strain was discovered in eastern DRC and has begun to cross borders into adjacent nations. Sweden reported its first case of Clade 1b a week ago, noting that the patient had also traveled to an unidentified African nation.
The case in Thailand marks the first confirmed instance of Clade 1b in Asia. While Mpox is less contagious than viruses like COVID-19 and measles, it is transmitted through close contact such as sexual activity, skin-to-skin interaction, and proximity in conversation. Experts express concern about the new variant’s spread and its high mortality rate in certain parts of Africa, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify it as a public health emergency of international concern.
Vaccines are typically distributed to those at risk or who have had close contact with infected individuals, but raising awareness, monitoring contacts, and implementing infection control measures are crucial in preventing outbreaks. Although vaccines are limited in Africa, millions of doses are expected to arrive in the DRC within the week.
In Thailand, health officials have identified 43 individuals who were in close proximity to the infected traveler and will monitor them for 21 days. Additionally, travelers from 42 high-risk countries are required to undergo testing upon arrival in Thailand.
Mpox symptoms include skin lesions and flu-like signs. While most cases are mild, the current strain has a fatality rate of approximately 4%, making it more deadly than previous strains. The tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa are where most mpox infections occur, with thousands of cases reported annually.
In 2022, a milder strain, Clade 2, prompted a global public health emergency, and that strain continues to be present in various countries.