Thailand has confirmed Asia’s first known case of a new, deadlier strain of monkeypox (mpox) in a patient who had travelled to the country from Africa.
The Department of Disease Control said laboratory tests on the 66-year-old had confirmed he was infected with the mpox Clade 1b variant. The patient landed in Bangkok on 14 August and was sent to the hospital with mpox symptoms.
“We have monitored 43 people who have been in close contact with the patient and so far they have shown no symptoms, but we must continue monitoring for a total of 21 days,” said the department, adding “Anyone travelling to Thailand from 42 “risk countries” must register and undergo testing on arrival”.
“Thailand’s Department of Disease Control wishes to confirm the lab test result which shows mpox Clade 1b in a European patient,” the department said in a statement, adding that the World Health Organization (WHO) would be informed of the development.
The World Health Organization has declared a global public health emergency over the new variant, urging manufacturers to ramp up production of vaccines.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry recently said it has strengthened its screening system across the country, including the Katunayake Airport, in view of the global surge in the monkeypox disease.
Issuing a statement, Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Palitha Mahipala said necessary protocols have been put in place to detect passengers who could bring in the disease to Sri Lanka.
Dr. Mahipala further said that in the event a monkeypox case is detected in Sri Lanka, the necessary treatment centre has been established at the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit in Colombo.
Stating that the Medical Research Centre in Colombo is equipped with the necessary monkeypox detection laboratory tests, he said the necessary directives have been issued to the relevant authorities with regard to the disease. (Newswire/ The Guardian)