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The precautionary measures are being taken all around the world after trials for a new treatment showed disappointing results against the new variant of mpox, which is driving the current outbreak read more
 "World ramps up screening for mpox as cases emerge outside Africa")
A doctor examines a patient suffering from mpox in the North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on July 19, 2024. File Photo/Reuters
Surveillance efforts and thorough screening efforts are being undertaken as multiple cases of Monkeypox were reported outside the continent of Africa. With the rise in cases, the World Health Organisation has recently described the outbreak as a global “public health emergency”.
The precautionary measures are being taken all around the world after trials for a new treatment showed disappointing results against the new variant of mpox, which is driving the current outbreak. On Friday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) raised its risk level assessment for mpox from low to moderate.
The decision from the European body came after Sweden reported the first case of the clade Ib variant outside the continent of Africa. Pakistan has also reported 2024’s first case of the disease, prompting China to announce that it would begin screening travellers for the virus.
While the risk is low, Europe maintains precautions
Amid the chaos, the UK Health Security Agency said there were no cases of the virus in the UK and the risk was considered low. However, they noted that planning was underway to prepare for any cases in the future. After detecting the first case, the Stockholm-based ECDC said more imported cases to Europe were “highly likely”.
“Due to the close links between Europe and Africa, we must be prepared for more imported clade I cases,” ECDC director Pamela Rendi-Wagner said in a statement.
It is pertinent to note that this is the second time in two years that the WHO declared the virus as a “global public health emergency”. At least 450 people died during the initial outbreak of the new variant in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The disease has since spread to areas of central and east Africa.
Mpox spreads by physical contact and causes a characteristic lumpy rash, fever, aches, and pains. Medical professionals have always raised concerns over the matter since the virus can be extremely fatal.
Clade 1b appeared in DRC in September last year and is touted as the “most dangerous variant yet”. It has a higher mortality rate than clade 2 - said to be between 5-10 per cent compared to 0.2 per cent and has already accounted for 15,000 cases in Africa this year.
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the symptoms usually appear 6-13 days after infection and include fevers and headaches, rashes or sores and muscle aches.
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English (US) ·