Asia on alert: Deadly new mpox strain hits Thailand

Thailand confirmed its first case of a potentially deadlier strain of mpox, marking Asia’s first encounter with the virus variant known as Clade 1b. This alarming development follows hot on the heels of the first reported case outside Africa, in Sweden, just a week ago.

The infected individual, a 66 year old European man, arrived in Bangkok from an undisclosed African country on August 14. The very next day, he began exhibiting symptoms and promptly sought medical attention. It was soon confirmed that he had contracted the Clade 1b strain of mpox—a variant currently wreaking havoc in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its neighbouring countries.

Since last year, mpox has claimed at least 450 lives in the DRC, spreading across previously unaffected regions, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The Clade 1b strain, now identified in eastern DRC, has proven particularly deadly, raising fears of further international spread.

Mpox, though less contagious than viruses like Covid-19 or measles, is transmitted through close contact, including sexual activity, skin-to-skin interaction, and even close-range conversations. The virus causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, which, while mild for most, can be fatal—especially with the new, more virulent strain, which has a fatality rate of 4%.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the spread of Clade 1b a public health emergency of international concern. In response, Thailand’s Department of Disease Control has tracked down 43 individuals who were in close contact with the infected man and will monitor them for 21 days. The country has also tightened its borders, requiring travellers from 42 high-risk countries to undergo testing upon arrival.

Vaccines, though effective, remain scarce in Africa, with millions of doses expected to arrive in the DRC soon, reported BBC News.

In related news, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has swung into action, kicking off the registration process for mpox diagnostic test kits amid growing fears over the viral infection’s spread.