Thailand reports suspected first case of dangerous Mpox strain

Bangkok: Thailand has reported a suspected case of a new, more dangerous strain of mpox, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified as a global public health emergency. The patient, a European traveller who came to Thailand from an African country, is currently in isolation at a hospital, according to Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, head of Thailand's Department of Disease Control.

Laboratory tests are underway to confirm if the strain is Clade 1, the more severe form of mpox. "We have done a test and they definitely have mpox and it's definitely not Clade 2," said Thongchai.

"We are convinced the person has the Clade 1 variant, but we have to wait to see the final result in the lab for two more days."

This strain has been causing a significant increase in cases and deaths in Africa, with outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda since July.

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a virus transmitted through infected animals and can spread from human to human via close physical contact. It causes symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and large skin lesions that resemble boils.

The newly identified strain, Clade 1b, is more deadly and transmissible. It has a mortality rate of about 3.6%, with children being particularly vulnerable. The virus was first discovered in monkeys in Denmark in 1958.

This year, the Democratic Republic of Congo has reported over 16,000 cases and 500 deaths. On August 15, Sweden confirmed its first case of Clade 1 outside Africa.

Agencies