Presenting - A new disease - Now it's Monkeypox

[Gaybutton]

Govt seeks monkeypox vaccine

Experts say 'no need' to stockpile jabs

May 27, 2022

The government is seeking to secure a supply of smallpox vaccine from the World Health Organization (WHO) to bolster the public's immunity in the event of a viral outbreak, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday.

Although Thailand has yet to record or detect any case of monkeypox infection, the increasing number of foreign arrivals in the country will heighten the risk of contagion, he said.

Mr Anutin made the request on May 5 in a discussion with WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus on the sidelines of the 75th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

Separately, Prof Dr Somsak Lolekha, chairman of the Royal College of Paediatricians of Thailand and the Paediatric Society of Thailand, said monkeypox won't become a major public health risk in the kingdom as a large part of the population have been vaccinated against smallpox.

Past studies from Africa suggest the smallpox vaccine is at least 85% effective against monkeypox, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Immunity induced by the smallpox vaccine can last up to 80 years after vaccination," Prof Dr Somsak said.

Despite the benefits, Thailand stopped mass administration of the vaccine once the WHO declared the disease eradicated in 1980, because live-attenuated vaccines -- such as the smallpox shot -- have been known to cause severe, sometimes deadly, adverse effects, especially among those who are immuno-compromised, he added.

As such there is no need for the country to stockpile monkeypox vaccines, he said citing the recommendations jointly-issued by five medical organisations.

Dr Chakrarat Pittayawonganon, director of the Bureau of Epidemiology at the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said no monkeypox cases have been detected in Thailand's monkey population.

As wild primates, rodents and small mammals endemic to Africa are known vectors of the monkeypox virus, all imported animals from the region must be checked and registered with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, he said.

Meanwhile, DDC specialist Dr Taweesap Siraprapasiri suggested that people exercise extra caution when they gather in crowded public places to avoid infections, pointing out a major cluster was detected after a pride festival in Spain.

Those who attended the event are advised to get tested for monkeypox for the sake of disease control, Dr Taweesap said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ox-vaccine

[Montree]

Talking to my Thai boyfriend via FaceTime at the weekend he is very worried about Monkeypox. He moves around a bit but is usually in Bangkok. He was absolutely adamant that it so called because “it makes you look like a monkey”. I asked him what chickenpox did but he didn’t know what that was so that got me nowhere. When I said I would be in London next week he said I shouldn’t go because “gay people get monkeypox” and I shouldn’t go out. His capacity to believe what he reads on the Web never ceases to amaze me.

[Jun]

Talking to my Thai boyfriend via FaceTime at the weekend he is very worried about Monkeypox. He moves around a bit but is usually in Bangkok. He was absolutely adamant that it so called because “it makes you look like a monkey”. I asked him what chickenpox did but he didn’t know what that was so that got me nowhere.

Very amusing. Also cowpox, smallpox and rabbit pox. [Wikipedia tells us that chicken pox isn't a true pox]

I might just avoid visiting the saunas in London at the moment, but considering the lardy customer base, going to a London sauna once a year is enough anyway. Monkeypox won't stop me going elsewhere for a massage.

[gerefan]

but considering the lardy customer base,

As in lardy dah?!!

[2lz2p]

Ministry of Public Health allows private labs to conduct tests for Monkey Pox - https://www.thaipbsworld.com/suitable-p ... -case-yet/

[Gaybutton]

Not only is this a disease you don't want, but once again we have a disease stigmatizing gays, as did AIDS at first. I hope this won't cause problems for gays in Thailand or worldwide.
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Thailand’s second Monkeypox patient confirmed in Bangkok, Public Health Ministry reports today

By Nop Meechukhun

28 July, 2022

Thailand’s second Monkeypox patient was found in Bangkok, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed this afternoon, July 28th.

The Minister told the Associated Press around 2:30 PM. that the Department of Medical Sciences has examined the laboratory test on a suspicious patient who is now confirmed as the country’s second case of Monkeypox.

According to the authorities, the patient is a 47-year-old Thai man, living in Bangkok, who has a history of homosexual sexual practices with a foreigner. He reportedly began to have suspicious symptoms on July 12th. Two days later, he reportedly had a fever, body pain, and swollen lymph nodes. A week later, rashes reportedly appeared on his genitals, body, face, arms, and legs. Therefore, he sought examination at Wachira Hospital.

Currently, he is still being treated at the hospital. The authorities are conducting a health investigation on his close contacts and taking them for symptom observations for at least 21 days.

Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, added that there are now 10 people who are in close contact and his family members living in the same house. All of them are now being tested. Meanwhile, the investigative team is urgently seeking more of his contacts for further examination.

https://tpnnational.com/2022/07/28/thai ... rts-today/

[Gaybutton]

I'm getting a bit worried. Thailand is up to 3 confirmed cases and 7 considered high risk. I don't think I'm worrying prematurely. That's how it began in Thailand with Covid (and it's not over yet) - a very few cases. Then a few more. Then more and then more. For a long time Thailand did a remarkably good job of containing Covid, but I think most reading this are well aware of all the rules and restrictions it took.

At this point I'm not going to try to predict what will happen, but for now I'm not expecting good news.
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UPDATE: Seven people identified by health officials as high-risk for monkey pox in Phuket after third monkeypox case, a German tourist, confirmed in Phuket

By Adam Judd

3 August, 2022

According to the Thai health authorities, seven people have been identified as being at high risk for monkeypox in Phuket and are being tested and monitored after the third confirmed monkeypox case, who is a German tourist in Phuket, was announced this morning.

The press conference was held in Phuket this afternoon (August 3rd). Dr. Kusak Kukiattikoon, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) told the Phuket Express, “. There are seven 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.” Dr. Kusak concluded.

https://thepattayanews.com/2022/08/03/u ... in-phuket/
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German tourist in Phuket reported third case of monkeypox

By Pattaya Mail

August 3, 2022

The Public Health Ministry on Wednesday reported Thailand’s third monkeypox case in Phuket, a 25-year-old German man, arriving in Thailand on July 18.

Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control said that the patient was a tourist and had symptoms shortly after his arrival, so it was believed he contracted the virus before entering Thailand.

He had fever, swollen lymph nodes and developed a genital rash before it spread to other parts of his body.

The incubation period for monkeypox can last up to 21 days. The authorities are tracking those who had close contact with him.

https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnew ... pox-405526

[Jun]

I'm getting a bit worried. Thailand is up to 3 confirmed cases and 7 considered high risk. I don't think I'm worrying prematurely.

I guess it depends on what you're worrying about.
Last time I looked, there had been about 2000 cases in the UK and zero deaths. The number of cases doesn't seem to be increasing in an exponential manner. So I'm not unduly worried about my personal health, as this makes almost no difference to my odds of dying in the next 12 months.

What I am more worried about is poorly thought out policy responses from the Thai government. I suspect that the risk of that is low whilst no other countries are doing anything stupid.

For a long time Thailand did a remarkably good job of containing Covid, but I think most reading this are well aware of all the rules and restrictions it took.

Thailand did quite well in controlling the virus in 2020 and perhaps parts of 2021.

After that, they have had several policy errors, particularly continuing with certain damaging & ineffective restrictions and failing to vaccinate a high percentage of the elderly.

[Gaybutton]

this makes almost no difference to my odds of dying in the next 12 months.

You seem to think whether these diseases will kill you or not negates bothering to be concerned about any other aspects of them. I'm glad Monkeypox probably won't kill me, but based on what happens while the disease is running its course, it's a disease I for sure don't want.

I don't want to see the numbers increase. You said the last time you checked there were 2000 cases in the UK. As far as I'm concerned, that's 2000 too many - and there will probably be many more before it's over. That's what worries me about Thailand and what the Thai powers-that-be will try to do about it if it comes to that.

[Jun]

Here's a list of other diseases to worry about:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... -july-2022

I've again published UK data, but imagine Thailand has most of them.

From that source, I've plotted the UK monkeypox numbers by week. At least it's not going exponential.