BANGKOK, THAILAND – A Mpox-related death in a western Bangkok prison led to strict disease control measures and two further infections among prison medical volunteers.
Inmate death in Thon Buri facility
According to the Department of Disease Control (DDC), a 44-year-old inmate at Thon Buri Prison died on 11 February as a result of a Mpox infection. Authorities stated that the man had suffered from several serious pre-existing conditions, including HIV, which contributed to a rapid and ultimately fatal course of illness.
Contact tracing and immediate controls
Immediately after the death, the DDC identified 49 close contacts at increased risk of infection, including fellow prisoners and volunteer health aides working in the facility. In parallel, officials implemented infection control measures, focusing on the isolation of high-risk individuals and close medical monitoring.
Restrictions on prison movements and visits
Authorities said that inmate movements in areas of the prison classified as high risk were temporarily suspended. Prisoners who had close contact with the deceased were required to measure their temperature twice daily for 21 days, while outside visits were halted for the time being.
Vaccination drive and intensified hygiene
The DDC reported that the prison administration carried out extensive environmental cleaning and tightened rules for the disposal of infectious waste. Mpox vaccines were administered in a targeted manner to defined high-risk groups, including 19 inmates and staff members at the facility.
Two infected prison health volunteers
During ongoing surveillance, Mpox infections were detected in two volunteer prison health aides who had previously been listed as close contacts. Both showed only mild symptoms, described as small, pus-filled skin lesions, and were admitted to the Correctional Hospital, where their condition was reported as stable.
Authorities aim to prevent wider spread
The DDC stressed that several responsible agencies were working closely together to prevent further transmission of the virus within the prison. The stated goal was also to stop the pathogen from spreading into surrounding urban areas and to interrupt potential chains of infection at an early stage.
How Mpox spreads and is treated
Officials said Mpox was mainly transmitted through close physical contact, droplets, or touching contaminated materials. Typical symptoms included fever, headache and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes and a characteristic skin rash with blisters or ulcers.
Experts assessed that most cases were mild and resolved within two to four weeks, with treatment generally focusing on pain and fever reduction, adequate fluid intake and the prevention of secondary infections. Antiviral medicines such as Tecovirimat could be used in severe cases or for particularly vulnerable patients.
National Mpox situation in Thailand
A Health Ministry report broadcast on Thai PBS on 30 January stated that more than 1,030 confirmed Mpox cases had been recorded nationwide since the start of the outbreak in 2022. Against this backdrop, authorities viewed the events at Thon Buri Prison as a further reason to continually step up surveillance of high-risk groups and closed facilities with an elevated danger of infection.