More imported cases of new mpox strain in Europe expected, public health agency says
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Mpox causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the body.
PHOTO: AFP
More imported cases of a new mpox strain will appear in Europe in the coming weeks, but the risk of sustained transmission remains low, the head of Europe’s disease prevention agency said on Aug 16.
The agency raised its risk assessment for sporadic cases of mpox clade I in Europe to “moderate” on Aug 16.
The risk was high for travellers to affected areas in Africa in close contact with people there, and moderate for their contacts.
“There will be more cases in the coming weeks. That’s the expectation... But regarding the risk (for the) general European population, we have to say that our assessment is that the risk is very low at the moment,” European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) director Pamela Rendi-Wagner said in an interview.
She called for European countries to step up preparedness and raise awareness to prevent further spread.
An outbreak of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) caused by two different forms of mpox, an endemic form and a new offshoot called clade Ib, has caused global concern after it spread to more countries in Africa.
Sweden on Aug 15 became the first country outside Africa to confirm a case of clade Ib
The person was infected during a visit to the part of Africa where there is a major outbreak of mpox clade 1, state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslen said in a statement.
Pakistan’s Health Ministry on Aug 16 also confirmed at least one case of the mpox virus
Meanwhile, China will monitor people and goods
“Personnel from countries with monkeypox outbreaks who have been in contact with monkeypox cases or display symptoms... should take the initiative to declare themselves to Customs,” it said.
The government of the DRC said the virus has killed 548 people in the country so far in 2024, while Nigeria said it has recorded 39 cases of mpox since the beginning of the year and none has been fatal.
An official of the Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian network said on Aug 16 that far more diagnostic kits, treatments and vaccines need to be shipped to Africa to respond adequately to the outbreak.
The head of global vaccine group Gavi told Reuters it has up to US$500 million (S$659 million) to spend on getting shots to countries affected by the escalating outbreak in Africa.
Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic is seeking European approval to use its mpox vaccine in children aged 12 to 17.
The ECDC recommended that public health authorities plan and prepare for quick detection of any clade I cases that may reach Europe.
It predicts the impact from this strain of the virus will be low in Europe if proper surveillance and control measures are implemented, using the expertise garnered when another strain of mpox, clade II, spread globally in 2022.
During that emergency, the virus spread mainly among men who had sex with men, and behaviour change as well as vaccines helped bring it under control in Europe.
Mpox is a viral infection
It spreads through close contact, including sexual contact, and clade Ib appears to spread more easily among people than other forms of the virus, although there are many open questions about its severity and transmissibility, Dr Rendi-Wagner said.
Anyone with symptoms or travel history, or who has been in contact with someone with travel history, to affected areas in Africa should immediately contact a doctor, she added.
“Test, test, test, in order to find the suspect cases in Europe as soon as possible and prevent further spreading,” she said in recommendations to European public health authorities. REUTERS, AFP
