Hey there, globe-trotters! 🌍 Big news coming out of Thailand this week. On August 22, Thailand confirmed its first case of the mpox clade 1b strain—the second case of this variant found outside Africa! 😮 The patient is a 66-year-old European traveler who arrived in Thailand from an unspecified African country where mpox is on the rise. \"The test results confirm that he is infected with the clade 1b strain of monkeypox, which is the first case diagnosed in Thailand, but this man is likely infected from an endemic country,\" said Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, director-general of the Department of Disease Control. But don't panic! 😌 Thai authorities have conducted contact tracing and found no local infections. Safety first! Clade 1b has sparked global concern because it spreads easily through close contact. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Europe, mentioned on August 20 that people in the acute phase of mpox—especially those with mouth blisters—can transmit the virus through droplets in close-knit settings like homes or hospitals. Just last week, Sweden reported a case of this variant, linking it to a growing outbreak in Africa. This marks the first sign of clade 1b spreading beyond the continent. Since 2022, Thailand has detected 800 cases of mpox clade 2 but had no cases of clade 1 or clade 1b until now. The WHO has declared the recent outbreak a public health emergency of international concern after identifying the new variant. Meanwhile, children and vulnerable communities are feeling the impact of the expanding mpox outbreak in Eastern and Southern Africa. Over 200 confirmed cases have been reported across Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa, according to UNICEF on August 22. Stay safe out there, amigos! And remember—knowledge is power. 💪 Keep yourself informed, and let's look out for each other! ❤️
Reference(s):
Thailand confirms mpox case is clade 1b, second outside Africa
cgtn.com
