Thailand has confirmed the first known case in Asia of a new and deadlier strain of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox). The case involves a 66-year-old European man who traveled to Bangkok from Africa on August 14, 2024. He was diagnosed with the Clade 1b strain of mpox, which has been causing a surge in cases and deaths in parts of Africa.
This strain is more transmissible and has a higher mortality rate, particularly among children, with about 3.6% of cases resulting in death. The Thai health authorities have identified and are monitoring 43 individuals who had close contact with the patient, although none have shown symptoms so far. To mitigate the spread, Thailand has implemented stricter health checks for travelers from 42 high-risk countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global public health emergency over this new mpox variant, urging vaccine manufacturers to increase production.
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