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Monkeypox transit case in Thailand revealed. First case detected in Thailand is a transit passenger who only spent two hours at Suvarnabhumi Airport and was asymptomatic. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Public Health remains vigilant and is putting in place plans for potential protocols if required.- Thai Examiner

Monkeypox case in Thailand confirmed in transit passenger at Suvarnabhumi Airport last week

News Desk

First case detected in Thailand is a transit passenger who only spent two hours at Suvarnabhumi Airport and was asymptomatic. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Public Health remains vigilant and is putting in place plans for potential protocols if required.

Thailand on Monday confirmed its first case of monkeypox. A top official revealed that the case was that of a transit passenger travelling from Europe to Australia last week who was in the kingdom for only two hours. The news follows an announcement on Sunday that three suspected cases of the virus were, in fact, instances of the herpes virus.

The Chief of the Epidemiology Division of the Department of Disease Control within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Chakkarat Pitayowonganon, has confirmed one case of monkeypox in a transit passenger in recent days travelling from Europe to Australia via Thailand who was reportedly asymptomatic.

Dr Chakkarat Pitayowonganon, the Head of the Epidemiology Division at the Department of Disease Control on Monday confirmed that Thailand has detected a verified case of monkeypox in connection with an Australian business class passenger who transited through Suvarnabhumi Airport last week.

This followed a false alarm in recent days when three suspected cases turned out to be cases of the herpes virus which is a similar virus to both smallpox and monkeypox according to officials.

Department of Disease Control boss confirms false alarm as three suspected cases turned out to be herpes

On Sunday, the Department of Disease Control Chief, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, confirmed that lab results had shown the cases to be herpes.

Dr Opas used the occasion to assure people that the monkeypox virus is quite unlike the airborne virus that drove the pandemic in Thailand for the last two years as it is less easily transmitted and requires extremely close contact.

'However, initial information shows that monkeypox infection does not spread as easily as Covid-19. Transmission requires close interaction with a symptomatic individuals,' Dr Opas told reporters.

Business Class passenger in transit from Europe to Australia last week tested positive for Monkeypox

On Monday, Dr Chakkarat did not identify the patient who tested positive for monkeypox at the airport except to say that he was flying from a European country and later continued his journey onwards to Australia.

The passenger is believed to have also been asymptomatic for the disease but a test conducted showed he was carrying the virus.

It is understood that he was in Thailand for just two hours as a transit passenger at Suvarnabhumi Airport before flying onwards to his destination in Australia.

As a result of this, 12 staff and passenger crew are in the process of being monitored for the disease although the top medical official felt that it was quite fortunate that the airline passenger was travelling business class as this allows for increased seating room and distances between passengers on the plane.

Ministry plans possible quarantine, other protocols as it screens for cases, no need for action now

'The patient who travelled to Australia for several days was found to be infected. It's good that the patient was sitting in Business Class sitting far enough apart. The infection is not easy to transmit. Must be really close if not far away because the germs do not float away by themselves. As in the transmission events in Europe, there must be close hugs and kisses, so this disease is not easily contagious. You have to come in direct contact with the patient during the period of illness,' he explained to reporters.

He announced that the ministry was putting in place treatment procedures and rules concerning quarantine but there was no need, at this point, for any further action beyond monitoring the people who were in contact with the transit passenger for the next two to three weeks.

Major risk to Thailand are incoming travellers

Dr Chakkarat said the ministry was monitoring the disease and deemed the major risk of it spreading in Thailand as coming from people entering the country from abroad.

This was particularly so with high-risk countries which now include Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Canada.

The latest figures show 406 confirmed cases around the world with more countries being added to the list including Ireland, Malta, Mexico, Ecuador and Pakistan.

Currently, Spain, the epicentre of this latest virus, has the largest number of cases with 134 followed by the United Kingdom with 101, Portugal with 74 and Canada with 63.

Germany now also has 22 cases.



12 people being monitored after monkeypox contact. Passengers, cabin crew on plane with infected traveller. Health officials are monitoring the condition of 12 people who were in close contact with a traveller diagnosed with monkeypox who transited through Thailand for two hours while en route to Australia. Bangkok Post

 12 people being monitored after monkeypox contact

Tourists queue on arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport. Health officials are watching for possible cases of monkeypox, the latest global health scare.(Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

Health officials are monitoring the condition of 12 people who were in close contact with a traveller diagnosed with monkeypox who transited through Thailand for two hours while en route to Australia.

Chakkarat Pitayawonganon, director of epidemiology at the Department of Disease Control, said on Monday that the 12 people were passengers and flight attendants on the same flight as the confirmed case.

They had remained asymptomatic over the past seven days and would be monitored until day 21, the disease incubation period.

Dr Chakkarat said the confirmed case had travelled from Europe and spent two hours in transit.

Those who were in close contact with the case were not at high risk because the infected passenger was asymptomatic during the transit period.

The confirmed case developed symptoms in Australia, where the diagnosis was made.

"So far there has not been a confirmed case in Thailand," Dr Chakkarat said.

Elsewhere there were 494 monkeypox patients in 32 countries as of Sunday comprising 406 confirmed cases and 88 suspected cases, according to Dr Chakkarat.

There included 139 cases in Spain, 101 in England, 74 in Portugal, 63 in Canada, 22 in Germany and 13 in the United States.

"There are more patients in many countries," Dr Chakkarat said.

He said that monkeypox was not a dangerous communicable disease and was rates as a communicable disease justifying surveillance, like malaria and dengue haemorrhagic fever.

Symptoms included fever, sore throat, headache, body ache, backache, swollen lymph nodes, a rash, blisters and scabs.

Health officials were looking for arrivals with such symptoms and those who came from countries where there were cases - including African countries, Spain, Canada, Germany, Portugal, England and the United States.

Officials were also looking for those in close contact with wild animals and monkeys imported from Africa. Feeding monkeys in the country and seeing animals at zoos could continue, Dr Chakkarat said.

The World Health Organisation said in its latest update, issued on Sunday, that it had received reports of 257 confirmed monkeypox cases and about 120 suspected cases in 23 nations where the virus is not endemic, as of Thursday.

"Epidemiological investigations are ongoing. The vast majority of reported cases so far have no established travel links to an endemic area and have presented through primary care or sexual health services. The identification of confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox with no direct travel links to an endemic area is atypical.

"Early epidemiology of initial cases notified to WHO by countries shows that cases have been mainly reported amongst men who have sex with men. One case of monkeypox in a non-endemic country is considered an outbreak. The sudden appearance of monkeypox simultaneously in several non-endemic countries suggests that there may have been undetected transmission for some time as well as recent amplifying events."

According to previous reports, the disease is endemic to Central Africa.