Mpox Alert: Monkeypox Variant Clade 1B Reaches Asia After African Outbreak

Thailand, 22nd August 2024: The threat of mpox (monkeypox) is escalating as its deadly variant has spread from Africa to Asia. Thailand confirmed a case of the Clade 1B strain on Thursday, marking the second instance of this variant detected outside Africa. The infected individual is a 66-year-old European man who traveled to Thailand from an African nation last week. This case highlights the ongoing global health risks associated with mpox as it continues to emerge in new regions.

Mpox has already caused widespread outbreaks in Africa, raising significant concerns worldwide. Thailand’s Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, stated, “Test results confirm that he is infected with the Clade 1B strain of monkeypox, which is the first case found in Thailand, but this individual was likely infected in an affected country.” Fortunately, contact-tracing efforts have not identified any other local infections at this time.

The emergence of the Clade 1B variant has heightened global anxiety due to its potential for rapid transmission through close contact. Recently, a case in Sweden was also linked to the African outbreak, underscoring the variant’s reach beyond its original location. In response to the alarming spread, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the recent mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

In addition, Thailand reported that the infected individual had traveled to a Middle Eastern country before arriving in Thailand, although he did not disclose the country’s name. Since 2022, Thailand has recorded 800 cases of mpox Clade 2, with no previous reports of Clade 1 or Clade 1B variants.