Thailand Reports First Case of 'More Dangerous' Mpox Strain in Tourist

Thailand has reported a new case of Mpox in a European man who arrived from an African country on August 14. Authorities are currently treating the case as if it involves the Clade 1 strain, which is known to be more dangerous, pending confirmation of the specific strain.

Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, the Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, informed Reuters that the case is being handled with the assumption it is the Clade 1 variant due to the patient’s recent travel from an area in Africa where this strain is prevalent. The specific African country from which the man arrived has not been disclosed.

This development comes amid growing concerns over Mpox outbreaks, particularly in Africa, where the disease has been endemic since the 1970s but has recently garnered international attention. Public health officials are working diligently to address the outbreak, drawing from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include addressing delays in vaccine acquisition and distribution.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a public-health emergency of international concern earlier this month. In response, efforts are underway to ensure that vaccines are delivered and distributed effectively within Africa. Vaccines are expected to arrive in the coming week, and there are ongoing efforts to establish robust supply chain management to facilitate their distribution, according to Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Mpox's presence in Africa has been relatively underreported until recently. Although the disease is endemic to the continent, it did not receive adequate vaccine support when Mpox cases began rising globally in 2022. Similar issues were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, where Africa faced significant delays in receiving vaccines.

Efforts are now being made to address these challenges by enhancing local vaccine production capabilities. The Biovac Institute in South Africa is in discussions with Africa CDC to transfer technology necessary for manufacturing Mpox vaccines locally. Morena Makhoana, CEO of Biovac, emphasized the importance of building a local vaccine industry to avoid future supply issues.

The global community continues to monitor the situation closely, as Mpox remains a significant concern for both public health and international safety

Aug. 21, 2024 3:02 p.m. 480

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