Suspected case of monkeypox found in Thon Buri prison

An inmate of Thon Buri special prison is thought to be infected with monkeypox. He was about to undergo surgery in the Corrections Department’s hospital when symptoms of the disease became apparent to the medical staff.

The Corrections Department said today that it has received a report from the prison that an inmate, who has been incarcerated there since January 20th, recently developed gangrene in one of his feet, accompanied by high fever.

He was about to have the gangrenous limb amputated in an operating theatre in the department’s hospital when a doctor noticed several clear blisters on his legs and suspected that he might be infected with monkeypox. The surgery was postponed and the inmate was quarantined for diagnosis.

Bubble and seal measures (disease prevention and control protocols in specific areas) were put in place to contain any possible spread of the contagious disease, said the Corrections Department, adding that the Department of Disease Control has also been alerted.

Bubble and seal also means that all new inmates are subject to quarantine for observation for development of monkeypox symptoms, which include sore throat, headache, muscle pain, back pain, blisters and pustules.

The department said that no other monkeypox cases have been found at the prison to date.