Thailand has confirmed its first case of the new, more contagious mpox variant known as clade 1b, marking the first such case in Asia. The patient, a 66-year-old European man who traveled to Bangkok from Africa, was hospitalized on August 15, a day after his arrival. This development comes just days after Sweden reported the first clade 1b case outside of Africa, raising concerns about a potential global outbreak.Thai authorities are closely monitoring the situation, with 43 people who had close contact with the patient under observation for 21 days. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, stated, ‘The test results confirm that he is infected with the Clade 1b strain of monkeypox, which is the first case diagnosed in Thailand, but this man is likely infected from an endemic country’.The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency of international concern due to the increase in mpox cases in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The clade 1 variant, responsible for the current epidemic in Africa, is fatal in 3.6% of cases and particularly dangerous for children, according to the WHO.In response to the outbreak, France has announced it will donate 100,000 mpox vaccine doses to affected countries, while the United States will donate 50,000 doses to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The WHO currently recommends the use of MVA-BN and LC16 vaccines against mpox.Health officials emphasize that mpox is not transmitted like COVID-19 through the air. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO expert, stated, ‘If you come into contact with an infected person, you can get monkeypox, but this does not mean that everyone will get infected’. The WHO stresses the importance of targeted vaccination for those at high risk and those who are most vulnerable.
Key points
- Thailand confirms first case of mpox clade 1b variant in Asia.
- WHO declares public health emergency due to increasing mpox cases in Africa.
- Clade 1 variant has a 3.
- France and the US to donate mpox vaccine doses to affected countries.
- WHO emphasizes mpox transmission differs from COVID-19, stressing targeted vaccination.
6% fatality rate and is particularly dangerous for children.
Contradictions👾There is a slight discrepancy in the reported fatality rate of the clade 1 variant.
Some sources state it as 3.
6%, while another mentions a 3% death rate.
