Thailand confirms first known case of new, deadlier Mpox variant in Asia | Mpox

Thailand has confirmed the first known case of a new, more deadly strain of Mpox in Asia in a patient who entered the country from Africa.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said laboratory tests on the 66-year-old had confirmed that he was infected with the Mpox variant Clade 1b.

“The Thai Department of Disease Control would like to confirm the laboratory test result showing 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 health emergency because of the new variant and called on manufacturers to increase their vaccine production.

The patient landed in Bangkok on August 14 and was hospitalized with Mpox symptoms.

“We have monitored 43 people who have had close contact with the patient and so far they have not shown any symptoms, but we need to continue monitoring for a total of 21 days,” the department said.

Anyone travelling to Thailand from 42 “high-risk countries” must register and undergo a test upon arrival, the ministry added.

In Africa, cases and deaths from smallpox are increasing rapidly. Since July, outbreaks have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

Sweden also confirmed its first case of the more contagious variant in early August, and Argentina has quarantined a cargo ship because of a suspected case of MPOX on board, although it is not known whether this is the new, faster-spreading variant.

The disease is caused by a virus that is carried by infected animals but is passed from person to person through close physical contact. It causes fever, muscle aches and large, boil-like skin lesions.

While Mpox has been known for decades, a new, deadlier and more contagious strain – known as Clade 1b – is responsible for the recent surge in cases.

According to the WHO, clade 1b causes death in about 3.6 percent of cases, with children being at greater risk.

But Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, head of Thailand's disease control agency, said Mpox spreads much less quickly than Covid-19 because of the close contact needed to transmit the virus.

With Agence France-Presse and Reuters