Thailand has reported its first death from the monkeypox virus, according to a Thai PBS World report. Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong from the health ministry’s Department of Disease Control says the patient was also infected with HIV and syphilis.
The disease has been steadily spreading in Thailand with 189 infections now detected in the Kingdom.
According to the report, a 34 year old male patient was admitted to a private hospital in Chon Buri province on July 3. He was diagnosed with the monkeypox virus a week later. He then went on to develop symptoms including a sore throat and a fungal infection.
Dr Tares says the man received hospital treatment over the course of 4 weeks and was then discharged. However, he was subsequently admitted to the Bamrasnaradura Institute of Infectious Diseases in Bangkok as he was complaining of breathing difficulties and fatigue.
Blood tests showed the man had a high white blood cell count, which indicates a serious immune reaction. The patient was also found to have infections in both his brain and lungs. Medics administered antibiotics and anti-viral medication, but the man died on Friday, August 11, according to Tares.
As of August 8, Thailand has had 189 confirmed monkeypox cases, involving 161 Thai nationals and 28 foreigners. Most of those diagnosed so far have been men-who-have-sex-with-men, with 82 of those also infected with HIV.
Dr Sophon Iamsirithavorn from the DDC says high-risk sexual behaviour can lead to an increase in monkeypox infections. To date, there have been 152 deaths worldwide from the virus.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
