Thailand steps up screening for mystery disease from Afghanistan
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health intensified its monitoring of travellers arriving from Afghanistan, aiming to curb the potential spread of a mysterious infectious disease.
Local officials in Afghanistan reported at least 500 cases of the unidentified illness in the Kafshan Valley, Shinwari district of Parwan province, approximately 80 kilometres north of Kabul. The disease’s rapid transmission has resulted in critically ill patients being transferred to provincial hospitals and the capital for more advanced treatment. Symptoms include general weakness, severe limb pain, diarrhoea, and high fever.
Dr Panumas Yanwetsakul, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), confirmed that the ministry is aware of the outbreak and has implemented precautionary measures to screen incoming travellers.
“We have instructed staff at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, U-Tapao, and Hat Yai airports to monitor travellers from Afghanistan closely. Anyone with high fevers or other suspicious symptoms will be quarantined for further medical assessment.”
Airline pilots and crew members arriving from Afghanistan have also been advised to monitor their health and wear masks during flights, reported Bangkok Post.
In related news, in a crucial move to fight the growing mpox crisis, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved Abbott Laboratories’ mpox diagnostic test for emergency use. This marks the first approval of its kind as the global health body ramps up efforts to tackle outbreaks across affected regions.
The real-time PCR test, known as the Alinity m MPXV assay, can detect mpox virus DNA from human skin lesion swabs. According to the WHO, the test is specifically designed for use by trained clinical laboratory personnel, ensuring accurate results and safe handling.
In other news, the health ministry has sounded the alarm, urging everyone to stay alert and protect themselves against venomous animal bites during the rainy season. This warning follows reports of five people bitten by venomous creatures in two provinces, a troubling reminder of the risks accompanying this year’s floods.
