Thailand’s 1st monkeypox case found on Phuket | Coconuts

*Thailand in recent weeks has received an increasing influx of foreign tourists. Phuket Airport has reportedly welcomed nearly 20,000 arrivals per day – 8,000 domestic and 12,000 from abroad – according to Monchai Tanod, director of Phuket International Airport.*

Published: 2026-03-14 17:57 UTC Event date: developing

Thailand has confirmed its first case of monkeypox after a 27-year-old Nigerian man tested positive for the virus in Phuket, health authorities announced yesterday. The patient, who had recently traveled from Nigeria to Phuket, began exhibiting symptoms about a week before the diagnosis, including coughing, fever, sore throat, runny nose, and later developing rashes and lesions that spread across his body.

According to Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, Director of the Department of Disease Control, laboratory tests conducted on Thursday confirmed the presence of the monkeypox virus in the patient. The man’s symptoms initially appeared as flu-like but progressed to include rashes and lesions in the genital area, arms, and face—a pattern consistent with monkeypox infection.

In a concerning development, health officials reported that the infected individual is currently missing on Phuket, prompting authorities to intensify their efforts to locate him and prevent potential further transmission. The Department of Disease Control has urged members of the public not to panic, emphasizing that local health services have been on alert and are actively monitoring the situation.

Phuket, a major tourist destination in southern Thailand, has seen a significant increase in visitor numbers since the country’s reopening to international travel. Monchai Tanod, director of Phuket International Airport, reported that the airport is currently handling nearly 20,000 passenger arrivals daily, with 12,000 arriving from overseas and 8,000 from other parts of Thailand. The high volume of travelers has raised concerns about the potential for imported cases of infectious diseases such as monkeypox.

Monkeypox, a relative of the smallpox virus, gained international attention earlier this year after cases began spreading outside of Africa, where the disease is endemic. Since May, more than 15,000 cases have been recorded globally across 65 countries, although the World Health Organization has not declared the outbreak a global health emergency. The virus is typically transmitted through close skin contact and is considered less severe than smallpox.

Local health authorities in Phuket are currently tracing contacts and monitoring for any additional suspected cases. Residents and tourists are being advised to maintain personal hygiene, avoid close contact with individuals displaying unusual rashes or lesions, and report any symptoms to medical professionals.

The situation continues to develop as officials work to track down the infected individual and prevent any potential spread of the virus within the island’s community. Updates from the Ministry of Public Health are expected as the investigation progresses.

Source: https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/thailands-1st-monkeypox-case-found-on-phuket/