Sanook Thai Caption: No monkeypox in Thailand

Thailand's DPM and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated yesterday that there were no confirmed cases of monkeypox in the kingdom.

The only suspected cases from countries being monitored for the disease turned out to just be herpes, reported Sanook.

The minister was answering press questions at health ministry HQ in Bangkok yesterday after getting back from the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva on Thursday.

He had been apprised of the monkeypox situation by Dr Rome Buathong of the International Communicable Disease Control and Quarantine Division. 

People still had to register for Thailand Pass and any suspected cases would be handled by the Barasnaradura Institute who would do testing.

He urged the continued wearing of masks, frequent hand washing and social distancing. 

He said he had raised the question of monkeypox and vaccines with WHO chief Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus who assured him of assistance if required. 

Thailand was ready, however, with measures of its own in this regard saying that the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) has kept frozen smallpox vaccine for more than 40 years and sent it to the Department of Medical Science for quality inspection already.