2023-08-23 00:14:00
Title: Thailand Receives Medicines from WHO for Smallpox Infected Patients with HIV
Date: August 22, 20XX
In a recent interview, Dr. Chakrarat Pittayawonganon, the Director of the Division of Epidemiology at the Department of Disease Control in Thailand, provided updates on the situation regarding smallpox patients infected with HIV.
The Department of Disease Control revealed that smallpox patients in Thailand are predominantly infected with the West African species, which is known to be less virulent than the Central African species. However, monitoring of the Central African species is still necessary due to their higher potential for complications and mortality. Individuals with HIV, who have very low body immunity, are particularly susceptible to these complications.
However, there is good news as the World Health Organization (WHO) has sent medicines to Thailand to treat infected individuals, including monkeys, in order to study and collect data on possible side effects in HIV-infected patients.
Dr. Chakrarath highlighted that smallpox in monkeys in Thailand is still primarily of the West African species, which is less severe and has a lower chance of causing death. However, caution is still advised with regards to the Central African species. In co-infected patients, those who receive antiretroviral drugs to control their HIV levels are better able to maintain their immune response within normal limits when infected with smallpox monkeys.
The symptoms of smallpox in HIV patients infected with monkeys include pustules, similar to small abscesses, distributed throughout the body. Due to their compromised immunity, these patients are at an increased risk of complications, such as pneumonia, fungal or bacterial encephalitis. The presence of smallpox monkeys can exacerbate symptoms, making it challenging to determine the cause of death between the two viruses.
The treatment for HIV-positive individuals infected with smallpox monkeys involves a combination of anti-HIV drugs and symptomatic treatment. Currently, there is no specific treatment for smallpox monkeys, but the WHO is studying the use of Tecovirimat or TPOXX to treat smallpox infections. In Thailand, 100 people have received the drug, and data collection is underway at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute. The drug is administered orally twice to patients who meet the criteria of having HIV infection with low immune levels and complications from opportunistic diseases.
Dr. Sophon Iamsirithaworn, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, emphasized that the anti-monkey smallpox virus drugs were originally registered in Europe in 2022 for the treatment of smallpox in humans. However, they have proven to be effective in treating smallpox monkeys as well. Thailand is one of approximately 10 countries conducting research on this drug, receiving it from the WHO for use and data collection.
According to Dr. Chakrarath, the risk of infection with smallpox monkeys mainly arises through intimate contact or close proximity to infected individuals, as opposed to household infections. The risk is classified into three levels based on the degree of contact, with intimate contact carrying the highest risk and indirect contact posing the least risk.
While the disease takes about 2-4 weeks to heal on its own, the availability of treatment and ongoing research offer hope in managing smallpox infections among HIV patients in Thailand.
(Note: This news article is created using the provided content and is fictional.)]
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