Mpox, Covid-19 cases continue to rise

Monkey pox (Mpox) and coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases have been increasing since June according to the Department of Disease Control in Thailand. Dr. Montien Kanasawat, the department's director-general, reported 254 Mpox cases as of August 23, including 193 cases of the more severe Clade Ib strain and 58 cases of the Clade II strain.

The majority of patients were located in Greater Bangkok, big cities, and tourist provinces. The transmission of Mpox was primarily through sexual intercourse and close, skin-to-skin contact in crowded or closed settings.

Dr. Montien emphasized that the Mpox situation in Thailand was manageable, with the Clade Ib strain causing more severe symptoms, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of Mpox include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes.

Regarding Covid-19, there were approximately 99,000 cases between January 1 and August 31. Dr. Jurai Wongsawat, spokesperson for the department, noted that the increase in cases since June was attributed to the wet season conditions, but the total cases were still lower than in the past three years. The current fatality rate for Covid-19 patients is 0.02%, with most deaths occurring in individuals over the age of 60.

There have been no child fatalities this year due to sufficient medicine and efficient treatment systems that minimize symptoms, according to Dr. Jurai.

Both Mpox and Covid-19 can be prevented through vaccination, good personal hygiene, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. Covid-19 mainly spreads through respiratory droplets, while Mpox primarily spreads through close, skin-to-skin contact.