US Navy Sailor Evacuated After Monkey Scratch in Thailand

A U.S. Navy sailor assigned to a minesweeping mission in the Strait of Hormuz was medically evacuated to Japan after sustaining minor scratches from a wild monkey during a brief stopover in Phuket, Thailand, U.S. officials said.

The incident occurred while the sailor, an electronics technician aboard the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Chief, was ashore during a refueling stop. The vessel, carrying a crew of about 84, was en route from its forward base in Sasebo, Japan, to the Middle East as part of efforts to clear naval mines from the strategic waterway. Officials described the injuries as non-life-threatening and stated the sailor received initial treatment in Thailand before being transferred back to Sasebo for further medical evaluation as a precaution against potential infections from the animal contact.

Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a spokesperson for the Navy's 7th Fleet, confirmed the sailor is in stable condition and expected to recover fully within weeks. The Navy did not disclose the sailor's identity or specifics of the encounter, but noted that long-tailed macaques, common in Thailand, are known to interact aggressively with humans and can carry diseases such as...