Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

Thailand confirms Asia's first case of new deadly Mpox variant

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Aug 2024 09:13
3 Min Read

The Thai Department of Disease Control highlighted that Mpox spreads much less rapidly than COVID-19 since close contact is needed for transmission.

Listen
  • x
  • Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, head of Thailand's Department of Disease Control, speaks following the suspected first case of mpox in Bangkok.
    Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, head of Thailand's Department of Disease Control, speaks following the suspected first case of Mpox in Bangkok. (AFP)

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. 

Related News

Over 40, including children, killed in Sudan hospital attack: WHO

Half a billion adolescents could face obesity by 2030, report warns

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.

  • mpox
  • Monkeypox
  • thailand
  • WHO
  • World Health Organization
  • CDC

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS