Wednesday, August 21, 2024 Thailand has identified a suspected case of a new, more dangerous strain of mpox in a European traveler. The patient, a 66-year-old man who arrived from an unnamed African country on August 14, is believed to be infected with the Clade 1 variant. This variant is known to be more deadly and transmissible, prompting a warning from global health authorities last week.
After arriving in Thailand, the man had minimal contact with others and sought medical attention the following day, according to Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, head of the Department of Disease Control. “After he arrived, there was very little time during which he came into contact with others,” Thongchai told Reuters. “He arrived around 6 p.
m., and on the next day, August 15, he went to see a doctor at the hospital.” Authorities are closely monitoring 43 individuals who may have been in contact with the patient.
“We have conducted tests, and the patient definitely has mpox, but it’s not Clade 2,” Thongchai stated. “We are convinced it’s the Clade 1 variant, but we need to wait for the final lab results in two more days.” Thailand has previously detected 800 cases of the Clade 2 variant, but this would be the first instance of Clade 1 or Clade 1b in the country.
Meanwhile, the European traveler has been quarantined, and further lab tests are ongoing to confirm the strain. Understanding the Mpox Clades There are two distinct clades or natural groups of the mpox virus: Cl.