The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has raised the alert level today for mpox (“monkeypox”) and advised countries to remain vigilant regarding travellers arriving from affected areas.
The European agency has increased its risk assessment from ‘low’ to ‘moderate’ for both the general population and travellers, noting that while the risk of transmission in Europe remains very low, imported infections are being quickly identified and controlled.
The current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is caused by an endemic strain known as clade I, but a new variant, clade Ib, appears more transmissible through close, daily contact, including sexual contact.
‘Due to the close connections between Europe and Africa, we need to prepare for more imported infections of clade I,’ said ECDC Director, Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner.
ECDC Recommendations:
The ECDC’s statement comes following the World Health Organization’s declaration of a public health emergency earlier this week due to the spread of clade Ib infections in countries neighbouring the DRC. Yesterday, Sweden identified its first case of the new variant, marking the first detection of clade Ib outside of Africa.
The ECDC has advised public health authorities to prepare and plan for the rapid detection of any clade I infections that may reach Europe. They predict that the impact of this virus strain on the continent will be minimal provided appropriate surveillance and control measures are implemented.
Mpox is a viral infection causing flu-like symptoms, and while it is often mild, it can prove fatal in rare cases.
(information from in.gr)
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