The Ministry of Health of Cambodia is on the look out for a Nigerian man, Osmond Chihazirim Nzerem, who is reported to have escaped from a Thailand Healthcare center after being diagnosed with Monkeypox.
The Ministry is closely investigating the case of the Nigerian national, infected with Monekypox, who escaped from treatment in Thailand and think he may be headed to Cambodia.
The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Health, Ms. Youk Sambath, said this morning, that, after receiving a report from the Thai authorities regarding the escape of a Monkeypox patient, the Ministry of Health and the authorities are closely monitoring all crossing points at the Thai border.
Ms. Youk stated that “After receiving high guidance from Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, all health officials stationed at all ports in cooperation with authorities at all levels are preparing.
Authorities are vigilant at all ports, whether on land or inland, and our emergency response officers at the border are ready .”
At the same time, Mr. Oum Rath, Governor of Banteay Meanchey Province, has also issued an urgent order to all local authorities in his province bordering Thailand to search for men resembling the man, after information was received that he may have fled Thailand after being diagnosed and come to Cambodia.
Unconfirmed sources report that the Nigerian tried to cross the border from Thailand into Cambodia through the border of Koh Kong province.
Colonel Ngoy Chieng, chief of the Cham Yeam International Border Crossing Immigration Police, said that Osmond Chihazirim Nzerem, a 27-year-old black man, has been banned from entering Cambodia since the 22nd of July.
He further stated that police forces are stepping up patrols to identify the man, detaining suspects if found within the jurisdiction of the target.
The Nigerian’s case was discovered on the tourist island of Phuket last weekend when the patient travelled to a private hospital with symptoms similar to Monkeypox.
According to Thai health officials, the hospital took samples from the patient for laboratory tests last Saturday.
On Monday night this week, the results came out positive.
Phuket Health Authority said that after receiving the results of the test, the patient refused to receive treatment, turned off his phone and did not contact the hospital.
The Nigerian man had arrived in Thailand on October 21, 2021 and had been staying in a condominium in Patong, Phuket.
On July 18, 2022, Thailand announced the first case of Monkeypox in its country.