Officials have so far run tests on 25,000 of 50,000 monkeys in 222 locations nationwide but all the results have come back negative, Phattarapol Mee-on, a veterinarian at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said yesterday.
Random checks were also carried out on another 97 primates and rodents imported from abroad, he said, adding the results were all negative.
The department is working with the Livestock Department to screen imported animals for monkeypox, Mr Phattarapol said, adding that health exams are being conducted on animals imported by zoo operators over the past year. He said most belong to zoos and animal farms, which understand the situation and are keen to cooperate.
They are also willing to delay future animal imports in line with the measures devised to contain the disease, Mr Phattarapol said.
People who live near any known habitats of monkeys are urged to keep their distance and avoid feeding them, he said.
Primates and other animals can also spread other diseases to humans in addition to monkeypox, he noted. According to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, more than 500 monkeys were imported last year and 1,000 were brought into Thailand this year. Most came from from monkey farms in Europe and Africa.
