Thailand reported the fifth case of monkeypox – a returning Thai national from abroad. Health officials said the patient was detected during airport screening upon arrival.
A 25-year-old Thai woman was confirmed on Monday (Aug 15) with monkeypox, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC). She was returning from Dubai when health authorities detected symptoms including blisters. The patient, who has been cooperative, was then taken to a hospital and later tested positive for monkeypox.
Health officials have reached out to close contacts namely two foreign nationals who were seated close to this patient on the aircraft.
DDC Director General Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong said this case is considered an imported case, as the patient exhibited symptoms before arriving in Thailand.
With the mode of transmission largely from direct skin contact rather than respiratory, Dr. Opas said the general public can go about their normal lives without worrying too much about the disease, while no close contacts of the previous 4 cases tested positive for the virus.
He cautioned however that the virus can still transmit via close physical contact, but the disease is not categorized as a sexually transmitted disease even though it can spread during sex. (NNT)
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