Rumour of new monkeypox case ‘unfounded’

Tourists browse a street market in Phuket on Sunday, unfazed by monkeypox stories. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)
Vacationers browse a street market in Phuket on Sunday, unfazed by monkeypox tales. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)

PHUKET: A rumour that another case of monkeypox had been discovered in Phuket was totally groundless, provincial health office key Kusak Kukiatkoon said on Wednesday.

The rumour spread around Phuket on Tuesday, that a woman had been discovered to have monkeypox. Based on the rumour, she had a close relationship using the Nigerian man who was Thailand’s first confirmed case of this illness. The man has left the nation.

Doctor Kusak said health officials had looked into the rumour plus found it to become totally groundless.  

Dr Kusak said the Thai man, old 40, had wanted testing for monkeypox at Thalang Hospital on Tuesday. He or she was referred to Vachira Phuket Hospital just for laboratory tests as well as the result was anticipated soon.

The man had no link with the Nigerian man, he added.

Doctor Veerasak Lorthongkham, director of Vachira Phuket Hospital, said that the person had a fever for three days and developed blisters over his body.

“He has a good having had chickenpox before. He has never experienced close contact with foreign people or  been associated with sex services. They are an ordinary family man and not in an at-risk occupation. The man was initially diagnosed as getting chickenpox.

“However, as the country is now on high alert for monkeypox, samples have been extracted from him for a lab test. The result will be expected in 2 or 3 days, ” Dr Veerasak said.