Thailand tightens screening protocols after traveller contracts monkeypox

A monkeypox-hit traveller reached Australia after a 2-hour transit in Bangkok.

Screening protocols for inbound travellers were tightened to prevent the entry of monkeypox after a traveller, who had a prior trip to Bangkok, was infected with monkeypox upon reaching Australia, the Thailand government said on its official Facebook page.

International arrivals, especially those from at-risk countries, who have a fever over 38°C and with at least one other symptom of monkeypox, will be examined. Symptoms of monkeypox include sore throat, headache, myalgia, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes.

Aside from this, authorities also ordered hospitals, skincare clinics, and clinics for sexually transmitted diseases to be on high alert for potential monkeypox infections, whilst also readying laboratories, medical supplies and disease investigation teams.

The government also maintained that there are no cases of monkeypox in Thailand, as of 2 June. 

According to news reports, 12 passengers have already been quarantined as they were close contacts of the monkeypox case from the traveller, who had a two-hour transit in Bangkok before landing in Australia.