Argentine authorities have quarantined a cargo ship in the Parana River after one of its crew members had Mpox symptoms.
The Liberian-flagged ship, travelling from Santos, Brazil, was en route to Rosario to pick up soy cargo when it informed authorities of the suspected case.
The World Health Organization declared Mpox a worldwide public health emergency for the second time in two years last week due to a new and faster-spreading variant of the virus.
The new variant, clade 1b, was first detected in Sweden after its rapid spread in Africa.
The Argentine health ministry reported that an Indian crew member had cyst-like skin lesions on the chest and face, requiring activation of emergency protocols.
The ship, initially headed for San Lorenzo Port in Santa Fe province, is currently anchored in the river.
Only medical staff are permitted on board, and the entire crew is quarantined, awaiting test results.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, has pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms. It is usually mild but can be fatal.
The clade 1b strain is concerning due to its potential for increased transmission through close contact.
Globally, 13 countries across the Americas reported Mpox cases this year, despite Argentina reporting only eight cases of other strains. The outbreak has led to increased vaccine production and distribution efforts, with Denmark’s Bavarian Nordic and Roche collaborating to expand supply.
The Africa CDC predicts that mpox vaccinations will begin in the coming days in Africa, where the outbreak is most severe.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, the epicentre of the outbreak, has reported nearly 19,000 cases and over 500 deaths so far this year.
However, vaccine availability remains limited, with a huge dosage gap and high costs posing challenges.
The World Health Organization states that mpox though serious can be controlled with coordinated global efforts. The organization has called for increased responses, particularly in Africa to manage and mitigate the spread of the virus.
Reference: Reuters, CNN
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