Twelve people aboard a flight from Europe were placed in quarantine upon their arrival yesterday after one of them was found to have contracted monkeypox.
Passengers and crew came into contact with the unidentified traveler Monday afternoon when he stopped over at Suvarnabhumi International Airport for two hours before flying onward to Australia, where symptoms in line with the disease started to surface.
Although those quarantined have yet to show any symptoms, disease control official Chakkarat Pittayawonganon said they will need to remain isolated for an additional 21 days after they are released from one week of quarantine.
Prior to Monday, health officials on Sunday suspected that five foreign men had contracted the virus. However, they later determined through tests that all of them just had herpes, three of them from a Muay Thai gym on Phuket.
Monkeypox symptoms include blisters on the face and body. The disease is usually caused by coming into contact with rodents and monkeys, and eating uncooked meat. It is believed to be transmitted between humans through direct contact.
Health experts noted that symptoms of monkeypox are less severe than that of smallpox.
Last week, health director-general Opas Karnkawinpong sounded the alarm warned that Thailand should be vigilant the kingdom reopens to foreign travelers.
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