Thailand has detected a mpox case in a tourist who is suspiciously the first case of Clade 1b infection in the Southeast Asian country, local authorities said on August 21.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has requested increased monitoring to detect suspected monkeypox cases at border gates and proactive surveillance in healthcare facilities after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) amid the potential risk of disease spread.

The Indonesian government has decided to relax COVID-19 restrictions for travel, large-scale activities and on public facilities with face masks no longer being mandatory.