News Forum - Monkeypox outbreak: Thailand witnesses spike in cases within the LGBTQ+ community

[Thaiger]

A significant rise in monkeypox cases within Thailand was reported by health officials this week, issuing a stern warning for men within the gay community, who seemed to be at an increased risk, to exercise necessary precautions amidst the ongoing monkeypox outbreak. Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong, heading the Department of Disease Control, disclosed in today’s press … …

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[Guest1]

Next "stop", for monkeypox, might be the "ladyboy lovers" community, methinks!

[Vigo]

This was mostly imported by Europeans. The outbreak last year was associated with European raves and gay pride events. It followed the gay party  & rave circuit calendar.

[Karolyn]

What has rave got to do with Aids? 

[Guest1]

On 7/2/2023 at 9:09 PM, Vigo said:

This was mostly imported by Europeans. The outbreak last year was associated with European raves and gay pride events. It followed the gay party  & rave circuit calendar.

Not really, if I remember that right.

The first monkey pox carrier were identified as "coming from African countries", beeing African citizen.

There were some Thaiger articles about it.

[Vigo]

Monkeypox endemic countries are: Benin, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana (identified in animals only), Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. Almost all of the cases reported for Africa are in  Republic of the Congo. There are no evisa or Visa on Arrival for these nationals. They must apply for a visa in  the Republic of Congo and be approved there first.  Since Covid the number of visitors to Thailand from these countries is insignificant.   The areas of concern are now the Americas both North and South, and western Europe. Low risk zones were much of Asia.  Have  a look at the current data and the international case reporting. It mirrors tourism activity.    https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/mpx_global/  Mpox was neither endemic nor common in Thailand. The only people with high rates of infection who are likely to visit  Thailand are westerners.

In 2022 it was first hypothesized that the epidemic started through sex events and raves first in Spain and then in Belgium. https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/5/23/monkeypox-outbreak-linked-gay-sauna-and-festival     

 https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/antwerp-monkeypox-belgian-monkeypox-outbreak-linked-to-fetish-festival-2995443

It was then observed that the epidemic spread city to city following the rave/circuit party scene calendar as  infected people following the party circuit calendar spread the disease. Shortly after the incubation period, infected people began to appear in the party circuit cities.  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/monkeypox-outbreak-likely-spread-by-sex-at-2-raves-in-europe-says-who-expert

The arrival of MPX through Europeans or UK nationals is not unusual or unexpected. Thailand has had a number of  pride and gay party events that target western visitors.