monkeypox

EU urged to issue travel warnings as mpox risk in Africa grows

European health authorities have recommended that EU countries issue travel warnings for regions affected by mpox following its designation as a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). On Friday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) cautioned that Europe may see more imported cases due to the virus’s spread in several African nations. However, the ECDC noted that the risk of ongoing transmission within Europe remains low, as long as imported cases are quickly identified and controlled. This advisory comes after Sweden detected a new mpox variant, marking the first case of this strain outside Africa. Bruno Ciancio, ECDC’s head of surveillance, expressed concern over the worsening situation in Africa, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries, where case numbers may be underreported. To curb the spread in Europe, the ECDC stressed the importance of rapid case identification and containment. They have advised EU and European Economic Area (EEA) countries to issue travel advisories for regions impacted by mpox. Since last year, mpox has spread in the DRC and other African countries, resulting in over 500 deaths, primarily in the DRC. The WHO’s global emergency declaration underscores the need for coordinated international efforts to address the crisis. The ECDC highlighted that EU/EEA travelers with close contact to affected communities face a higher risk, while close contacts of imported cases in Europe have a moderate risk. There are two subtypes of the mpox virus: Clade I, more severe and endemic to central Africa, and Clade II, responsible for the 2022 global outbreak. Currently, several African countries are dealing with Clade I and a new strain, Clade Ib. Sweden’s report of the first European case of Clade Ib has led the ECDC to increase the risk level for EU/EEA travelers and the general population. Although the impact in Europe is expected to be low, the ECDC recommends high preparedness, including effective surveillance, testing, and contact tracing. Travelers to mpox-affected areas are advised to consider vaccination, and European clinicians are urged to remain vigilant for potential cases, despite mpox not being endemic to Europe. Ciancio emphasized that while the risk should be taken seriously, it should not be overstated, given the availability of effective and safe vaccines.

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Monkeypox cases surge in Goma as WHO declares global emergency

In Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, health teams are working tirelessly to identify monkeypox cases as the number of infections in the city continues to rise daily. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreaks in Congo and across Africa a global emergency. Confirmed cases have now been reported in children and adults across more than a dozen countries, with a new, more virulent strain of the virus emerging. Earlier this week, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labeled the mpox outbreaks a public health emergency, citing over 500 deaths and calling for international assistance to curb the virus’s spread. “Since Friday (August 9), we have confirmed nine cases of monkeypox. We first isolate individuals with suspicious lesions and then collect samples,” said Dr. Rachel Maguru, General Practitioner at Goma Provincial Hospital and Head of the Multi-Epidemic Center. Dr. Maguru expressed concern that individuals with symptoms might avoid visiting the hospital to escape isolation, which could lead to further infections spreading within communities. Recent reports have highlighted the emergence of a more lethal form of mpox in a Congolese mining town, which has a mortality rate of up to 10% and may spread more easily. This new variant is more difficult to detect as it causes milder symptoms and lesions primarily on the genitals, making it easier for people to unknowingly transmit the virus. “We are seeing a rising number of cases, with a mortality rate higher than acceptable. New countries are now reporting cases that hadn’t in recent years, with several of them identifying the variant of mpox currently spreading in the DRC,” stated Prof. Salim Abdool Karim, chair of the Emergency Consultative Group for the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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