Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

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Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

Post by Gaybutton »

Here we go again. Welcome to the next new disease, folks - Monkeypox. It's too new and too soon to predict what will happen, but don't be surprised about what Thailand tries - and fails - to prevent it from getting into the country.

Just how serious a disease this is and how Thailand will respond to it remains to be seen. It's another one I've never heard of. I hope we're not looking at a whole new set of rules and restrictions on the horizon just when the bars are about to open and the rules are being relaxed. The last thing Thailand can afford would be to close the borders, initiate new lockdowns and business closings, and bring back difficult travel requirements.

For now we can only wait and see, but don't expect the face mask and social distancing rules will be going away any time soon.

Once again, uncertainty reigns . . .

Here is what we have so far:
___________________________________

DDC ramps up anti-monkeypox measures

Visitors asked to give health declaration

by Apinya Wipatayotin

May 24, 2022

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has introduced strict rules for screening visitors travelling from countries where monkeypox has been found.

Travellers will have to fill in health declaration cards to be presented on arrival. The cards will also have a QR code that needs to be scanned so that incoming tourists can be provided information about symptoms and report them after arriving. They can then be advised on where to get medical help.

The DDC had set up an emergency operations centre (EOC) to monitor the spread of the virus and demanded immigration officials watch out for visitors from Central and West Africa, the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal, where the virus has been detected.

Any visitors who appear to have potential symptoms will be hospitalised for tests.

Dr Chakkarat Pitayawonganon, director of the department's epidemiology division, said on Monday that the EOC will help screen incoming tourists who might be at risk of having contracted the virus after travelling to countries with outbreaks.

It can be transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials.

Thailand had to establish the EOC to closely monitor the outbreak overseas even though there have been no recorded cases in the kingdom so far.

The EOC aims to keep an eye on cases abroad and update the latest data on how to prevent the virus, he said.

Dr Chakkarat said that during the incubation period, infected people might not show visible symptoms such as rashes and raised spots that turn into blisters and then scabs.

They might pass screening at immigration and enter the country. However, officials will look closely at passengers from countries that have outbreaks.

He also added that passengers must fill in health declaration cards before arriving for inspection. The cards will ask questions about having possible symptoms.

The first symptoms include having a high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen glands, chills and exhaustion. The Department of Medical Sciences is responsible for collecting samples from tourists who might display such symptoms.

Dr Chakkarat explained that monkeypox virus has been around in Africa for many years but travellers recently carried the virus into Europe and infections will likely spread from there.

He said monkeypox causes symptoms that are similar to those of smallpox although they are often less severe.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... x-measures
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Thailand starts screening arrivals for monkeypox at airports today

By Pattaya Mail

May 24, 2022

The Department of Disease Control has set up an emergency operations center (EOC) to cope with monkeypox as officials concerned are screening arrivals from the countries where the disease is spreading.

Dr Chakkarat Pitayawong-anon, epidemiology director of the department, said the disease was spreading in many countries, so Thailand had to raise its surveillance because there was not a specific cure for the disease which could be transmitted among humans.

Officials at airports were carefully screening arrivals from high-risk countries including Nigeria, Congo, England, Spain and Portugal and especially looking for those with rashes, he said.

The government was sharing with the people health advice via a QR code and recommending arrivals from the countries immediately see a local doctor and report their countries of origin if they had a fever or rashes, Dr Chakkarat said.

Story and photos: https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnew ... day-399493
Jun

Re: Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

Post by Jun »

1. Monkeypox is not new. It's been around for years.

2 It spreads much less easily than covid. However, it's more prevalent in the gay community, due to promiscuity. It's not an STD, but close contact leads to spread.

3. Apparently the case fatality rate is about 3-6%.

4. Smallpox vaccine apparently gives a good level of protection. However, that vaccination stopped years ago, although perhaps some of the oldest board members might benefit ?

5 There is a Monkeypox vaccine

I do not claim any expertise in this field.
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Re: Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

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Jun wrote: Tue May 24, 2022 6:03 pm Monkeypox is not new. It's been around for years.
I had never heard of it until now.

Is it common in the UK? According the Pattaya Mail article, the high rick countries are Nigeria, Congo, England, Spain and Portugal. I'm surprised to see England on that list. Other than certain government officials, maybe monkeys are more common in England than I thought . . .
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Re: Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

Post by whitedesire »

Yes here in the UK. It is also the less severe version, well certainly here in the UK. 57 cases as of today. I think it is also large crowds that we have to worry about. It is also transmitted via bed sheets, towels and so forth.
Jun

Re: Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

Post by Jun »

I had also never heard of monkeypox until recently, but it was discovered in the 1950s. A reminder that we have much to learn.

The UK is higher risk due to a few imported cases from Africa. One of the downsides in having unrestricted travel from such places.
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Re: Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

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whitedesire wrote: Tue May 24, 2022 9:00 pm It is also transmitted via bed sheets, towels and so forth.
Uh oh! Cancel my reservation at Motel 6 . . .
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Re: Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

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Airports on alert for monkeypox symptoms

May 25, 2022

The Public Health Ministry has issued alerts instructing all international airports to step up their screening of arrivals, especially from 17 countries where monkeypox cases have now been confirmed, according to its deputy minister, Sathit Pitutecha.

"Each airport has a disease control unit and officials will intensify measures against monkeypox by being more vigilant," he said.

Skin disease and sexually transmitted disease clinics will be asked to watch out for monkeypox as Mr Sathit urged the public to keep abreast of the situation from the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

Dr Chakkarat Pitayawonganon, director of the DDC's epidemiology division, said travellers from the UK, Spain and Portugal are being closely monitored for monkeypox.

He said travellers from these countries who have visible symptoms such as rashes will be asked to take a test, adding that no tests have been conducted so far.

The ministry has not declared monkeypox a dangerous communicable disease yet and no domestic cases have been reported. However, it will meet to assess the risk of infection, he said, adding the ministry has not considered a vaccination programme.

Dr Supakij Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, said smallpox vaccines are known to be 85% effective against monkeypox and the department is well-equipped to test and approve such vaccines if needed.

As smallpox was eradicated in 1980, vaccination against the disease has not taken place for 40 years. However, vaccines have been developed against the virus out of concern it could be used as a bio-weapon.

He said three drugs -- tecovirimat, cidofovir and brincidofovir -- which were developed to treat smallpox are still being analysed for their effectiveness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) held an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the outbreak after more than 100 cases were detected in Europe.

Monkeypox causes symptoms which are similar to smallpox although they are often less severe and it is not as contagious.

Thassayu Dechachote, chief of disease control at Phuket airport, said the airport is stepping up surveillance against monkeypox as 130 passengers have come from at-risk countries recently. But no cases have been found so far.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... x-symptoms
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Re: Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

Post by whitedesire »

From my understanding, here in the UK, whilst there have been pictures of nasty pussy scabs etc, this is extreme and most cases are not like that. Yes, in smallpox you see those symptoms are common but not in monkeypox and in the milder version of the monkeypox which is here in the UK, so I'm assuming it is going to be the milder version spreading around Europe at the moment and they are looking out for in Thailand.
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Re: Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

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Govt ups monkeypox alert level

Disease moves closer to dangerous status

by Apinya Wipatayotin

May 26, 2022

Monkeypox is now classified as a communicable disease that requires close surveillance.

Screening measures are being raised to stem the possible spread of the viral disease, even though not a single case has been detected in the country so far, the Ministry of Public Health said on Wednesday.

The ministry's academic committee on Tuesday reached the decision to upgrade the status of monkeypox, said Dr Chakrarat Pittayawonganon, director of the Bureau of Epidemiology at the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

It has yet to be classified as a dangerous communicable disease, akin to Covid-19, however, because there have been no recorded cases since Thailand began screening international arrivals on Tuesday.

Also, the disease is far less transmissible than the novel coronavirus, he said. "Actually, Thailand has never recorded any cases of monkeypox," Dr Chakrarat said.

Although most of those who are infected recover quickly without any medical intervention, some can experience severe symptoms, especially children who are immunodeficient, he said.

Complications can then include serious infections in the lungs, brain, bloodstream and corneas, he added.

World Health Organization records show there are 131 confirmed cases of monkeypox and 106 suspected cases in 19 countries.

The virus can be categorised into two biological groups: the West African clade and the Central African clade.

The former is considerably less deadly, with a mortality rate of 1% compared to 10% for the Central African clade, Dr Chakrarat said.

Prof Dr Wasun Chantratita, head of the Centre for Medical Genomics at the Faculty of Medicine of Mahidol University at Ramathibodi Hospital, said the first test kit for monkeypox is expected to be available two weeks from now.

The centre is developing it based on the genetic information sequenced from specimens taken recently from infected patients in Portugal and Belgium, said Dr Wasun.

While waiting for the new test kit, which will provide results in 24 hours, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is now the main option but it involves a waiting time of two to four days, he added.

Dr Wasun has called for the strict screening of travellers arriving in Thailand from certain high-risk areas such as parts of southern Europe and Africa.

There should also be measures to screen animals, particularly rodents, brought in from Africa, he said.

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the DDC, said the department is screening international arrivals through the Thailand Pass system, following a rising number of monkeypox infections in several countries.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, meanwhile, issued a warning against the smuggling into Thailand of wild animals as they could be unwitting hosts to the virus, said government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana.

Gen Prayut also told officials to scale up border anti-smuggling measures. Chiang Mai airport has also started screening passengers arriving on certain international flights, airport director Wichit Kaeosaithiam said on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Pubic Health advises anyone who is travelling from Thailand to Europe or Africa to exercise extreme caution, avoid crowded areas, frequently wash their hands and always wear a face-covering in public.

Most of the confirmed cases in Europe this month have been in the United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain.

Some reports linked a cluster of cases in Spain to a gay sauna. So far nearly 20 countries where the disease is not endemic have reported outbreaks.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... lert-level
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Re: Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

Post by whitedesire »

Here we go ... check him out, has he been to a gay sauna!
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