Thailand has confirmed the first case of a new, deadlier strain of mpox in Asia. The patient, a 66-year-old European man, tested positive for the mpox Clade 1b variant after arriving in Bangkok from Africa. The World Health Organization has declared a global public health emergency over the new variant, urging increased vaccine production. Forty-three people who had close contact with the patient are being monitored for symptoms.
Cases of mpox are surging in Africa, with outbreaks reported in several countries. Sweden and Argentina have also reported cases of the new variant. While mpox is transmitted by infected animals, it can spread between humans through close contact, causing fever, aches, and skin lesions. The new Clade 1b variant is more lethal, with a death rate of 3.6%.
Despite the concerns, the head of Thailand’s Department of Disease Control stated that mpox is less likely to spread rapidly than Covid-19 due to the close contact required for transmission. Travelers from at-risk countries are required to register and undergo testing upon arrival in Thailand to prevent further spread of the disease. The department has informed the WHO of the new variant’s presence in the country.
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