Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 21, 2026 47 minutes ago
Thailand Medical: Thailand’s health authorities are intensifying surveillance efforts after two new Mpox Clade Ib infections were confirmed among Thai men linked to risky sexual encounters in tourist and festival hotspots. The latest developments have renewed concerns over the spread of the highly transmissible Clade Ib strain, which has been under close monitoring since its emergence in the country in 2024.
Thai health officials intensify surveillance after new Mpox Clade Ib infections linked to risky tourist area encounters
According to Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC), the two latest infections were identified between April 26 and May 9, 2026. Both patients were Thai men aged between 25 and 40 who reportedly engaged in close skin-to-skin contact and casual sexual activity with strangers in crowded tourist settings and festival environments.
Clade Ib Variant Showing Steady Rise
Thailand Medical officials revealed that Thailand has now documented a cumulative total of 18 Mpox Clade Ib cases since the variant was first detected. Alarmingly, six of those infections were recorded in 2026 alone, signaling that transmission of the strain is continuing despite ongoing public health monitoring.
The broader Mpox (Monkeypox) outbreak situation in Thailand remains significant. Since the start of the global outbreak, the country has confirmed 1,074 Mpox infections and 16 related deaths across all circulating strains. Most earlier cases were linked to the milder Clade II variant, but authorities are increasingly concerned about Clade Ib due to its enhanced transmissibility and growing spread patterns.
Dr. Montien Kanasawasdi, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, warned that risky intimate behavior remains the primary driver of infections.
Officials also noted reports involving foreign tourists who traveled to Thailand and engaged in sexual activity with strangers in tourist destinations, further increasing the risk of cross-border transmission.
Tourist Areas and Festivals Under Surveillance
Thai health authorities disclosed that many recent infections were associated with crowded entertainment venues, festivals, and tourist districts where prolonged close contact commonly occurs. Public health agencies across the country have now been instructed to strengthen screening, monitoring, and contact tracing efforts, especially in high-risk establishments and tourism zones.
This Medical News report highlights growing concern among epidemiologists that Clade Ib could establish wider community transmission networks if preventive measures are ignored. Most infections continue to occur among men who have sex with men, although officials stressed that anyone engaging in close contact with infected individuals remains vulnerable.
Public Urged to Remain Vigilant
The DDC is urging the public to avoid intimate contact with strangers, particularly individuals showing suspicious rashes, les
ions, or flu-like symptoms. Authorities also advised consistent condom use and immediate medical evaluation for anyone developing fever, swollen lymph nodes, rashes, or pus-filled lesions within 21 days after potential exposure.
Officials emphasized that while no deaths linked to Clade Ib have been recorded in Thailand so far, the increasing number of infections demonstrates that the outbreak remains far from over. The government continues to focus on public awareness campaigns, rapid case detection, and targeted risk communication to prevent a broader escalation of infections in the months ahead.
Reference:
https://pr.moph.go.th/online/index/news/341127online/index/event
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