Thailand’s health authorities have confirmed one death from Mpox, involving a 44-year-old male inmate with severe underlying health conditions, according to the Department of Medical Services.
Nattapong Wongwiwat, Director-General of the Department of Medical Services, said the Department of Disease Control under the Ministry of Public Health received a report confirming the fatality.
The patient had multiple pre-existing conditions, including HIV infection, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis, and had discontinued medical treatment. This led to severe immunodeficiency, which officials said contributed to the unusually serious progression of the disease.
Given the severity of the case, the Department of Disease Control coordinated with the Department of Corrections and other relevant agencies to immediately implement disease prevention and control measures, including enhanced surveillance.
Mpox Symptoms and Transmission
Nattapong said Mpox is a viral infectious disease that can spread from animals to humans, and between people through close contact, bodily fluids, or contact with pus-filled lesions from an infected person.
Common symptoms include fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes and characteristic rashes. Patients are considered infectious from the early fever stage, with transmission risk increasing once the rash appears.
The incubation period ranges from five to 21 days, most commonly 10 to 14 days. Symptoms typically begin with fever, headache and muscle aches, followed by swollen lymph nodes and a rash.
The rash usually progresses from raised red bumps to fluid-filled blisters, then pus-filled lesions, before forming scabs. Lesions are often found on the face, palms and soles, but may also appear in the mouth or genital area.
Most Mpox cases resolve on their own within two to four weeks. However, the disease can be severe in children and people with weakened immune systems.
High-Risk Groups
Health authorities identified eight groups at higher risk of severe illness if infected:
– People living with HIV with low immunity
– Patients with blood cancers, such as leukaemia
– Patients with other organ cancers
– Organ transplant recipients
– Patients receiving chemotherapy, radiation or immune-suppressing medicines
– Bone marrow transplant recipients
– Patients with autoimmune diseases
– Children under eight years old
Diagnosis and Treatment
Mpox is diagnosed using real-time PCR testing of fluid from skin blisters, throat swabs or blood samples.
For patients with mild symptoms, there is currently no specific antiviral treatment, and care is mainly supportive, including fever-reducing medication and proper skin hygiene.
For immunocompromised patients with severe symptoms, hospital admission is considered based on clinical judgement.
The use of antiviral medicines that remain under World Health Organisation research protocols is determined by specialist physicians.
Prevention and Vaccination
Preventive measures include avoiding contact with sick animals or animals that may carry the virus, particularly monkeys and rodents, as well as frequent handwashing with soap or alcohol-based gel.
People are advised to avoid contact with animal secretions, wounds, blood or lymph fluid, and to wear face masks when travelling to high-risk outbreak areas.
Close contact with bodily fluids or lesions from suspected or confirmed cases should be avoided. Mpox vaccination is available for people aged 18 and above through the Thai Red Cross Society.
Anyone who develops abnormal pus-filled lesions following a fever is advised to isolate and seek medical testing promptly.
The Department of Medical Services said it has worked with dermatology and infectious disease specialists, paediatric and adult medicine associations, the Royal College, the Department of Disease Control and the Department of Medical Sciences to manage the situation.
Updated clinical practice guidelines on Mpox diagnosis, treatment and infection prevention — second revised edition dated November 9, 2023 — have been published, with further updates currently under discussion to ensure the guidance remains up to date.
Authorities reiterated that the public should remain alert but not panic, stressing that Mpox is not easily transmitted as it requires close contact, and that most cases recover fully with supportive care.
