Nigerian monkeypox patient arrested in Cambodia

Nigerian monkeypox patient arrested in Cambodia

PHUKET: Osmond Chihazirim Nzerem, 27, the Nigerian man reported as the first person in Thailand to be confirmed infected with monkeypox, and who has been missing from Phuket since Tuesday (July 19), has been arrested in Cambodia.

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Saturday 23 July 2022, 11:58PM

After his arrest, Mr Nzerem was taken to a health centre in Phnom Penh. Photo: Phuket Info Center

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The news came less than 24 hours after Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong responded to reports online saying that Mr Nzere had been found in Sa Kaeo province, on the Cambodian border.

Authorities reported last night that Mr Nzerem arrested by police in Phnom Penh.

After his arrest, he was taken into care by public health officials.

Mr Nzerem is wanted by health officials in Thailand, and by Thai Immigration for overstaying his visa during his stay in Thailand.

Mr Nzerem entered Thailand on a Non-Immigrant Education visa on Oct 21 last year. On entry he was permitted to stay 90 days, which expired on Jan 18.

As such, he faces the maximum fine B20,000 and, ironically, deportation. He also faces being blacklisted from re-entering the country for five years.

Kurt | 25 July 2022 - 07:20:03

mr Burr should explain himself/his writing.  For a while already it is well known  how monkeypox are spreading. And it were Phuket medici who told us through thai press that the Nigerian man had unprotected sex. Make myself asking or doctors not violate their oath in revealing/making public such info about a patient.

jamstock | 24 July 2022 - 11:04:45

Wow he was so sick that he was able to travel all the way to Cambodia. This must be a terrible disease!! And I hear you can only contract it through sexual contact. Why is this even a story? The world has gone mad!

JohnC | 24 July 2022 - 08:57:46

How did he cross the border in to Cambodia if his Thai visa was long expired? Thai immigration up to it's usual standards letting himleave the country?

Sir Burr | 24 July 2022 - 08:50:54

Oh, be quiet Kurt. Spouting your usual rubbish conjecture.
Try using Google to see how Monkeypox spreads instead of making stuff up with no evidence.

Timothy | 24 July 2022 - 08:47:38

The guy was in Thailand since October 21, 2021. It would seem that he caught the disease in Thailand. Maybe in that lovely, clean, world-class tourism destination....Patong.

Prab | 24 July 2022 - 08:11:44

so will he get a 30 day stamp for cre entry ? or how will he pay 20k thb fine now that he is already outside the country ? LOL.. how did he even left the country since we have such a strong border control? what a joke

Kurt | 24 July 2022 - 00:22:21

Thai Immigration hard wood bureaucracy! The man passed Immigration by passing the border to Cambodia, yes? Forget this whole affaire with Medical, RTP and Immigration failures in handling him for a long time. Be happy he is gone and will not any longer embarrasse you! Concentrate on all the Phuket entertainment ladies who infected him during unprotected sex with monkeypox and still out there.