Thailand has confirmed its first Mpox case in a patient who traveled from Africa, marking Asia's first known detection of the new deadly Clade 1b variant.

“Thailand’s Department of Disease Control wishes to confirm the lab test result which shows Mpox Clade 1b in a European patient,” the department said in a statement, adding that the World Health Organization (WHO) would be informed on the issue.

The 66-year-old patient arrived in Bangkok on August 14 and was sent to the hospital with monkeypox symptoms. 

“We have monitored 43 people who have been in close contact with the patient and so far they have shown no symptoms, but we must continue monitoring for a total of 21 days,” the department stated, asserting that anyone traveling to Thailand from the 42 "risk countries" is required to register and take a test upon arrival. 

The head of the department, Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, highlighted that Mpox spreads much less rapidly than COVID-19 since close contact is needed for transmission.

A surge in global Mpox cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the new Clabe 1b Mpox variant as a global public health emergency, the "highest level of alarm" under international health law. 

As cases are surging in Africa, the disease has also spread to the international level with the first case outside Africa detected in Sweden earlier this month. 

The WHO has, in collaboration with NGOs, called for an increase in vaccine production.

Humans can catch Mpox by coming into close contact with an animal or person who has the disease, as well as by coming into contact with contaminated objects. According to the WHO, patients frequently experience symptoms, such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, back pain, and muscle aches before a skin rash appears.

The Clade 1b variant causes skin eruptions all over the body while previous strains produced localized lesions around the mouth, face, or genital areas.

The term "monkeypox" was changed to "Mpox" by the WHO last year because it was "racist and stigmatizing language." For a year, both names will be used interchangeably as the term "monkeypox" is phased out, it was added.

WHO official: Mpox is not the new COVID

A World Health Organization (WHO) official emphasized on Tuesday that Mpox, whether it's the new or old strain, is not comparable to COVID-19, as authorities have effective measures in place to control its spread.

"We can and must tackle Mpox together," said Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, in a media briefing. 

"So will we choose to put the systems in place to control and eliminate Mpox globally? Or we will enter another cycle of panic and neglect? How we respond now and in the years to come will prove a critical test for Europe and the world," he added. 

Kluge emphasized that the attention on the new clade 1 strain offers Europe an opportunity to refocus on the less severe Clade 2 variety, improving public health guidance and strengthening surveillance efforts.

Kluge noted that around 100 new cases of the clade 2 mpox strain are now being reported monthly in the European region.