According to health officials, Thailand has reported what is believed to be the first case of a new, more dangerous strain of mpox.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified mpox as a global public health emergency. The patient, a European national who traveled to Thailand from an African country, is currently in hospital quarantine.
Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, the head of Thailand's Department of Disease Control, stated that while lab tests are still being conducted to confirm the strain, it is suspected to be Clade 1, known for its higher severity. "We strongly believe this case involves the Clade 1 variant, but confirmation from lab results is expected in two days," he said.
Mpox cases and fatalities are rapidly increasing across Africa, with recent outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The virus, transmitted from infected animals and through close physical contact among humans, leads to symptoms like fever, muscle aches, and large, painful skin lesions.
Although mpox has been recognized for decades, a more lethal and transmissible strain, Clade 1b, has emerged, causing a surge in infections. Clade 1b has a mortality rate of about 3.6%, with children being particularly vulnerable, according to WHO data.
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The virus, formerly known as monkeypox, was first identified in 1958 in Denmark from monkeys used in research. This year, the Democratic Republic of Congo alone has recorded over 16,000 cases and 500 deaths. On August 15, Sweden reported the first confirmed case of Clade 1 outside of Africa.
