Fifth Case of Monkeypox in Thailand Found in Woman Returning From Dubai

The Disease Control Department reported their findings of a fifth confirmed positive monkeypox case in Thailand on Monday. A 25-year-old woman returning from Dubai was identified at Suvarnabhumi Airport when disease-monitoring staff noticed blisters and signs of illness upon her arrival.

She was taken to a hospital for a lab test as well as treatment and was said to be fully cooperative throughout the procedure. The test confirmed her results a positive, though since she reported that her symptoms began to appear before her flight, it is most likely she became infected overseas.

There are no known local Thais who have been in close contact with her, however, two foreign passengers sat next to her on the arriving flight and will subsequently be located for testing as a preventative measure.

This is the fifth confirmed positive case of monkeypox identified in Thailand. The previously infected victims included two other Thai nationals, and two inbound tourists of Nigerian and German origin respectively.

As part of the World Health Organization’s protocol, the Thai Public Health Ministry has already informed Dubai of the case as well. Bangkok Hospital notes that monkeypox is not airborne but can spread through direct physical contact or via contact with bodily fluids.