Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun instructed all officials in the province to be on the lookout for a Nigerian man reported to have monkeypox and to have fled from Thailand to Cambodia’s Preah Sihanouk province.

In an audio message he sent on the afternoon of July 23, Chamroeun said that should the man be found anywhere, the authorities must report it to the Ministry of Health for an immediate intervention to prevent any possible outbreak of monkeypox.

“All institutions and authorities have to take effective measures to control this situation,” he said.

According to the provincial administration the man has been identified as Osmond Chihazirim Nzerem.

The Bangkok Post reported today that the 27-year-old Nigerian man was confirmed by lab tests in Thailand to be Thailand's first case of monkeypox.

Ministry of Health spokeswoman Or Vandine said that they have no definite confirmation yet as to whether the Nigerian who was diagnosed by Thai health officials as having monkeypox is actually physically in Cambodia.

“We are actively searching for this person and implementing all necessary measures to resolve the matter. If we have any new information on this we will update the public on it,” she tweeted.