Thailand Reports First Case of Alleged New Mpox Strain; Patient Had Come From Africa

By
Shernice Sim
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So, there’s been a bit of a buzz in Thailand lately about a certain virus you might remember from the headlines not too long ago—mpox. Yes, formerly known as monkeypox.

Thailand has reported a suspected case of a new, more transmissible strain of this virus. And guess what? This new strain could be more dangerous than the one we’re familiar with.

For the rundown of what mpox is and its latest developments, you can watch our video here:

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Anyway, back to the case at hand:

The suspected case popped up in Thailand after a 66-year-old European man, who has a residence in Thailand, returned from Africa on 14 August.

Unfortunately for him, and everyone else, Africa is still a hotbed for mpox, and he might have brought back more than just memories.

A Post-Flight Surprise

The day after he landed, this gentleman noticed some small rashes and a fever. He quickly headed to a hospital, and after running a few tests, the doctors diagnosed him with mpox.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting: this was not the regular strain Thailand has seen before. Usually, the country deals with the Clade 2 strain, which is less severe. But initial tests suggest this could be Clade 1b, a variant known for being more transmissible and deadlier.

This has not been confirmed, however, and the Department of Disease Control (DDC) in Thailand also stated that the patient has no serious symptoms.

If you are wondering what Clade 1b is, think of it as the more rebellious sibling of the mpox family. While mpox itself has been around for decades, Clade 1b is the new troublemaker rearing its ugly head on the world, causing more severe symptoms and spreading faster.

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This strain has been causing outbreaks across Africa, particularly in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya.

To give you an idea of how serious it is, DR Congo has reported over 16,000 cases and 500 deaths this year alone. So yeah, Clade 1b isn’t something to shrug off.

Thailand on High Alert

Since the man’s diagnosis, he’s been quarantined in a hospital, and health authorities are keeping a close watch on him, as well as the 43 other passengers who were near him on the flight.

With this potentially being a more contagious strain, Thailand is not taking any chances. The country has seen around 800 cases of the Clade 2 strain of mpox since 2022, with 140 cases reported just this year. However, this could be the first case of the Clade 1b strain in Thailand.

As we wait for the final lab results, life in Thailand continues as usual — just with an added layer of caution.

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For the rest of us, it is a good reminder that in our interconnected world. As we have learnt the hard way years ago: viruses don’t care about borders. Stay safe and informed!

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Shernice Sim