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A £3.1 million UK government package to tackle mpox will “ultimately benefit us all”, the Africa minister has said.
On a visit to the Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lord Collins of Highbury pledged money to prevent the spread of the disease, which was previously known as monkeypox.
The UK is preparing for potential cases of the new strain of mpox after Europe recorded its first case of the more deadly variant last week in Sweden.
Health officials said plans are under way to tackle a possible outbreak in the country ensuring healthcare workers are aware of the symptoms and that rapid tests are available.
But European health authorities have ruled out imposing border controls as the risk of a global virus outbreak is still considered “low”.
Thailand reported a suspected first case of a new, more dangerous strain of mpox in a European traveller.
In Argentina, a cargo ship was quarantined over the first suspected case of mpox on the vessel, after one of its crew members showed “cyst-like skin lesions, the health ministry said.
A public health emergency was declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) over a new outbreak of mpox in several African nations, with at least three cases now reported outside of the continent.
Key Points
- Thailand detects first suspected case in European man
- UK pledges £3.1m for Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Cargo ship quarantined in Argentina over suspected case
- UK health chiefs making plans for potential mpox virus cases
- Mpox is not the new COVID, says WHO official
Map shows rapid spread of Mpox Clade 1 variant
Salma Ouaguira21 August 2024 20:00 1724263231Watch: New deadly mpox strain likely to be in UK already, says diseases expert
New deadly mpox strain likely to be in UK already, says diseases expert
Professor urges those at risk to get jab or reduce number of sexual partners to cut chance of infection
Salma Ouaguira21 August 2024 19:00 1724263200EU rules out mpox border controls amid WHO warning
European health authorities have ruled out imposing border controls as the risk of a global mpox outbreak is still considered “low”.
The Health Security Committee (HSC) confirmed that there should not be “a public health emergency in Europe as things stand”.
A spokesperson added: “The HSC members agreed on the importance of a closely coordinated approach and the need to continue monitoring the situation very closely.”
Vaccination recommendations are kept for certain groups at more risk but the commission has ruled out extending the rollout for the general public for now.
It comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared outbreaks in Africa a global emergency.
Salma Ouaguira21 August 2024 19:00 1724259631Argentina suspects first case of mpox as entire cargo ship quarantined
Argentina quarantined a cargo ship over the first suspected case of mpoxon the vessel, as an outbreak of a new fast-spreading variant triggered a global public health alert.
The Liberian-flagged ship raised the alert after one of its crew members of Indian nationality showed “cyst-like skin lesions predominantly on the chest and face”, the health ministry said.
The health authorities in the country have activated a public emergency protocol and quarantined the ship with crew members not allowed to deboard.
Read the full story below:
Argentina suspects first case of mpox as entire cargo ship quarantined
Crew member not allowed to deboard ship till test results arrive
Salma Ouaguira21 August 2024 18:00 1724256031Congo reports more than 1,000 new mpox cases in a week
Congo reported more than 1,000 new mpox cases in the last week up to Tuesday as African health authorities asked for desperately needed vaccines to help fight its “growing” threat on the continent.
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreaks in Africa a global emergency.
Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms like fever, chills and body aches, and mostly spreads through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual intercourse. People with more serious cases can develop lesions on the face, hands, chest and genitals.
While mpox has been reported in 12 of Africa’s 54 countries during these outbreaks, the vast central African nation of Congo has recorded by far the most cases this year. Out of a total of 18,910 cases in 2024, 94% — or 17,794 — were in Congo, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, with 535 of the 541 deaths reported.
Read the full story below:
Congo reports more than 1,000 new mpox cases in a week
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control issued advice to travelers to mpox-affected areas
Salma Ouaguira21 August 2024 17:00 1724254231Airline pilots in countries hit by mpox urged to ‘familiarise’ with virus
Airline pilots operating to countries affected by mpox are being urged to “familiarise themselves with the key facts” on the disease, as compiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
A bulletin has been issued by the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (Ifalpa), saying: “The WHO has just determined that the upsurge of Mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, following the emergence and rapid spread of a new virus strain.
“Several outbreaks of mpox have occurred in different countries, with different modes of transmission and different levels of risk.”
Pilots have been told to read up on transmission, signs and symptoms, treatment, vaccination, self-care and prevention.
Ifalpa says: “The WHO does not recommend any international travel restriction measures at this time.”
Simon Calder 21 August 2024 16:30 1724252400Pakistan detects first case of new clade 2 mpox variant
Pakistan has detected one case of clade 2 mpox variant, the country’s ministry of health confirmed.
But the country claimed there have been no cases of the clade 1b strain, which triggered global concern for its rapid spread.
The mpox clade 1b variant is associated with severe clinical symptoms and higher mortality rate compared to the clade 2.
Spokesman for the ministry of national health services Sajid Hussain Shah said: “As of now, there have been no reported cases of clade 1 in Pakistan.”
Congo expects to receive first mpox vaccine by next week
Democratic Republic of the Congo hopes to receive its first mpox vaccines by next week, the Congolese health minister said.
The US and Japan are reportedly set to deploy supplies of mpox vaccines and needles in cooperation with the World Health Organisation and other partners.
Japanese KM Biologics, one of the manufacturers, claimed the country is holding a stockpile to be sent to the affected African areas.
Global vaccine group Gavi also confirmed last week they have prepared up to $500 million (£400 million) to spend on sending the shots.
In a news conference on Monday, health minister Samuel Roger Kamba Mulamba said: “We’ve just finished discussions with USAID and the U.S. government. I hope that by next week we’ll be able to see the vaccines arrive.”
Salma Ouaguira21 August 2024 15:30 1724248801EU rules out mpox border controls amid WHO warning
European health authorities have ruled out imposing border controls as the risk of a global mpox outbreak is still considered “low”.
The Health Security Committee (HSC) confirmed that there should not be “a public health emergency in Europe as things stand”.
A spokesperson added: “The HSC members agreed on the importance of a closely coordinated approach and the need to continue monitoring the situation very closely.”
Vaccination recommendations are kept for certain groups at more risk but the commission has ruled out extending the rollout for the general public for now.
It comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared outbreaks in Africa a global emergency.
Salma Ouaguira21 August 2024 15:00 1724247001Congo, other African countries to start mpox vaccinations in a few days, health official says
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African countries will start vaccinating against the viral infection mpox in a few days if everything is in place, the director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.
“We didn’t start vaccinations yet. We’ll start in a few days, if we are sure that everything is in place. End of next week vaccines will start to arrive in DRC and other countries,” Jean Kaseya told reporters.
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