Thailand’s deputy health minister says the country’s international airports are being asked to screen arrivals for monkeypox symptoms.
According to Sathit Pitutecha, the screening will apply in particular to travellers from 17 countries. Notably, arrivals from the UK, Spain, and Portugal will be closely screened. Travellers from those countries who have symptoms such as a rash will be asked to take a test. However, it’s understood no testing has been carried out so far.
To date, the health ministry has not classified monkeypox as a dangerous communicable disease and Thailand has not reported any cases of the virus. However, the DDC says officials will need to determine the risks. According to Thassayu Dechachote, head of disease control at Phuket airport, 130 passengers have arrived from at-risk countries recently but no cases of monkeypox have been reported at this time.
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