Thailand has reported its first confirmed case of a novel and potentially fatal strain of Mpox, known as Clade 1b, outside of Africa. The case involves a 66-year-old European man who arrived in Bangkok from an unidentified African country on August 14. He began experiencing symptoms the following day and sought hospital care, where it was confirmed that he was infected with the Mpox virus.
This outbreak of Mpox, which originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year, has led to at least 450 fatalities and has spread to neighboring countries previously unaffected, such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. A more alarming strain, Clade 1b, has recently emerged in eastern DRC and is crossing into neighboring regions.
Just a week prior, Sweden reported its first case of Clade 1b, also linked to recent travel from Africa. The recent case in Thailand marks the first occurrence of Clade 1b in Asia.
While mumps is not as infectious as diseases like Covid-19 or measles, it spreads through close personal contact, including sexual activity and proximity to an infected person. However, health experts are concerned about the transmission rates and high mortality associated with this strain in Africa, prompting the World Health Organization to label it a global public health emergency.
Vaccines for Mpox are typically reserved for at-risk individuals or those who have been in close contact with infected persons. Although there are currently limited supplies in Africa, millions of doses are expected to arrive in the Democratic Republic of the Congo soon.
In Thailand, authorities have identified approximately 43 individuals who were in close proximity to the infected man, and they will be monitored for 21 days. All travelers arriving from 42 countries considered at risk will also be required to undergo testing.
Mpox can present with skin lesions and flu-like symptoms; while it is usually mild, it can be severe in some cases. The new strain circulating in central Africa has a fatality rate estimated at four percent, which is significantly higher than previous strains. Cases of Mpox are most commonly reported in the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa. In 2022, a milder strain, Clade 2, raised global health concerns and remains prevalent in various countries.