He made the announcement at a media briefing in company with other senior officials, following reports in Thai media that the man had "fled" the hospital where he was being treated.
The superintendent of Phuket immigration, said the man was believed to still be in the beach area of Phuket.
Disease investigation officials had traced 154 people who were in contact with the man and, they were, bent tested. He said. So far, none were found to be infected.
The officer reassured the public that health officials could control the disease and there was no need for panic.
The chief of the Phuket public health office, said the monkeypox detected in the patient was the African variant, A2, which was not severe.
The man had sought treatment at a private hospital as an outpatient, he said. He was suspected to be infected with monkeypox, and the hospital sent samples of his blood for lab tests.
He was not admitted as his condition was not severe. He was advised to self-quarantine at his condominium room.
Around 6pm on July 18, the hospital tried to contact the patient to receive treatment at Phuket Hospital, but he could not be contacted as he had turned off his mobile phone, Dr Kukiart said.
Police sent to find him found that he took a taxi from his condominium to the beach, where he checked in at a hotel. He left the hotel around 9pm on July 18.
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) on Thursday evening said it was confirmed the 27-year-old man, who had arrived in Phuket from Nigeria, had monkeypox.
Last week, he went to a private hospital with a fever, coughing, sore throat and runny nose, a rash and lesions in his genital area that spread to other parts of his body and face.
Department of Disease Control chief officer said on Friday that monkeypox had been place on the list of communicable diseases under surveillance.
Provincial communicable disease committees, including Bangkok, need to put in place a disease control plan, as required by the Communicable Diseases Act. All detected cases must be directly reported to the department.
He said the Public Health Ministry had ordered the implementation of a surveillance and screening system for people suspected of having the disease. The symptoms included high fever, headache, sore throat, blisters on the hands, feet and genitals.
Police sent to find him found that he took a taxi from his condominium to the beach, where he checked in at a hotel. He left the hotel around 9pm on July 18.
The Department of Disease Control (DDC) on Thursday evening said it was confirmed the 27-year-old man, who had arrived in Phuket from Nigeria, had monkeypox.
Last week, he went to a private hospital with a fever, coughing, sore throat and runny nose, a rash and lesions in his genital area that spread to other parts of his body and face.
98% percent of reported cases globally "are among men who have relationship with men -- and primarily those who have multiple recent anonymous or new partners," the WHO's technical lead for monkeypox, told a press conference on Wednesday. They were typically of young age and chiefly in urban areas, according to the WHO.
Monkeypox is endemic to Central and West Africa.
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