Following confirmation that a 25 year old German tourist on Phuket is Thailand’s third monkeypox patient, 7 people have been identified as high-risk contacts. The individuals, who include the man’s girlfriend and her family, are being tested and monitored. The man has told doctors he has not engaged in any man-to-man sexual behaviour.
According to the Phuket Express report, provincial public health chief, Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon, says the 7 at-risk people have had their blood sent for testing and are now in quarantine.
“There are 7 individuals at high risk of monkeypox in this case which is the German tourist’s Thai girlfriend and her family. He stays in the Mueang Phuket district with his girlfriend and her family. Their blood has been sent to the Medical Science Center in Bang Jo, Thalang district. They are being monitored and quarantined at their accommodations.”
Yesterday, Thailand confirmed its third case of monkeypox after the virus was detected in a German tourist who is believed to have imported the disease from overseas.
From July 23-24, the man started to show a fever and a slight rash. On July 30-31 there were more rashes, starting on the genitals and spreading to the arms, wrists, torso until August 1, he began to have more fever, rashes, spreading all over the body. On August 2 he was examined at the private hospital, where he received treatment.
Worldwide, 24,579 people have been infected with this outbreak of Monkeypox, and about 3 people have died. There have been four smaller outbreaks, outside of central Africa, since 2000.
Most people over the age of 55 have already been inoculated against Smallpox and considered immune from Monkeypox as the diseases have similarities.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
