A fugitive Nigerian man who was diagnosed with monkeypox in Thailand was arrested in Phnom Penh last night after fleeing across the border to Cambodia, according to the Khmer Times.
Police arrested the man near Doeum Thkov market, Chamkarmon district, Phnom Penh. The news was confirmed by Keut Chhe, deputy governor of Phnom Penh.
After his arrest, the man -- provisionally identified as Osmond Chihazirim Nzerem, a 27-year-old Nigerian man -- was handed over to the Ministry of Health.
Earlier yesterday, there were reports of sightings in Sihanoukville from Kouch Chamroeun, governor of Preah Sihanouk province, who said he had received information the man had fled to his province.
Oum Rath, governor of Banteay Meanchey province, issued an urgent order to local authorities in his province bordering Thailand to look for the man.
More reports said the Nigerian tried to cross the border from Thailand into Cambodia through the border of Koh Kong province.
However, it now appears the man instead made his way to the capital, Phnom Penh, which has a large Nigerian expat community.
This marks Cambodia's first monkeypox case and officials will now trace all those he had contact with.
The Nigerian's case was discovered on the tourist island of Phuket last weekend when he visited 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 last week, the results came back positive.
The Phuket Health Authority said that after receiving the results of the test, the patient refused treatment, turned off his phone and did not contact the hospital.
The Nigerian man arrived in Thailand on Oct 21, 2021 and had been staying in a condo in Patong, Phuket.
In Bangkok yesterday before news of his arrest, Department of Disease Control director-general Opas Karnkawinpong said authorities in Cambodia were trying to locate the man.
Dr Opas said the 27-year-old Nigerian had fled with assistance from other people and his department would liaise with law enforcement agencies to take action against anyone who helped him escape.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he had received a report of the man leaving Thailand.
The man boarded Ethiopian Airlines flight ET0618 to Suvarnabhumi Airport on Oct 21 with a non-immigrant visa to study language at a university in the northern province of Chiang Mai until Jan 18, according to the Public Health Ministry.
Phuket officials said he went to a private hospital on July 16 a week after he developed a fever, coughing, a sore throat and runny nose. He also had a rash and lesions in his genital area which had spread to his face.
A doctor suspected Mr Nzerem may have monkeypox so sent a medical sample for tests.