Research online has been launched to get a 27-year-old Nigerian man after lab tests proved he has Thailand’s first confirmed case associated with monkeypox, Phuket mouthpiece governor Pichet Panapong said yesterday.
Mr Pichet made the statement at a media briefing in company with other senior officials, subsequent reports in Thailänder media that Nigerian national Osmond Chihazirim Nzerem had “fled” the hospital where he was being treated.
Officials have clarified that Mr Nzerem was not admitted since his condition was not considered severe. He or she was advised to self-quarantine in his condominium room.
They confirmed that Mr Nzerem visited a private hospital upon July 16 per week after he developed a fever, coughing, a sore throat plus runny nose. He also had an allergy and lesions on his genital area that will spread to other areas of his body plus face.
The doctor at the medical center learnt that Mister Nzerem visited enjoyment venues in Patong and had close connection with some tourists along with engaging in unsafe intercourse several weeks before he or she fell sick.
The doctor suspected Mr Nzerem might have been infected with monkeypox so a healthcare sample from the patient was sent regarding verification. A PCR lab test by the Thai Red Combination Emerging Infectious Diseases Clinical Centre on Tuesday found Mr Nzerem had monkeypox. This was later confirmed by tests organized by the Department of Disease Control (DDC).
Afterwards the hospital tried to contact Mr Nzerem to tell him to receive treatment at state-run Vachira Phuket Hospital, but he could not be contacted as he had switched off his mobile phone, stated Dr Kusak Kukiartkul, chief of the Phuket public health workplace. Officials went to Mr Nzerem’s apartment within Kathu district to arrange treatment but he was not there.
It is grasped that Mr Nzerem arrived in Thailand on Oct 21 this past year and has overstayed his visa by almost four months, Doctor Kusak said.
The monkeypox detected in Mr Nzerem was the African variant, A2, which was not severe, this individual said. Disease analysis officials searched for 154 people including 6 high-risk people who experienced close contact with Mr Nzerem. None of them had been found to be contaminated, Dr Kusak said.
Pol Col Thanet Sukchai, superintendent of Phuket immigration, said Mister Nzerem was thought to still be in the Patong beach area of Phuket.
Department of Disease Manage chief Opas Karnkawinpong said monkeypox is not serious and can become treated.
There have been 15, 848 cases found in seventy two countries since Might this year.