Argentina Quarantines Cargo Ship Amid Suspected Mpox Case
Department of Research, Strategic Studies and International Relations 21-08-2024
Authorities in Argentina have placed a cargo ship under quarantine on the Parana River following concerns over a potential mpox infection, as reported by the government on Tuesday.
The global health community continues to monitor for new, faster-spreading variants of the virus.
The vessel, positioned near the inland grain port of Rosario, reported that an Indiancrew member exhibited “cyst-like skin lesion sprimarily on the chest and face,” according to a state ment from the Ministry of Health.
The individual has been isolated from the rest of the crew, and emergency public health protocols have been activated.
The ship, originally en route to San Lorenzo port in Santa Fe province, has nowan chored in the river.
Mpox, declareda global public health emergency for the second time in twoyears by the World Health Organization (WHO) last week, isspreading rapidly with a new variant detected outside Africa.
Swedenre cently confirmed its first case of the clade 1b variant, marking itss pread beyond Africa.
Argentina has recorded eight mpox cases to date, none involving the clade 1b variant. The quarantined Liberian-flagged vessel, traveling from Santos, Brazil, intended to collectsoy cargo, as noted by the health ministry and the Argentine Naval League.
Until test results are available, only medical personnel are allowed to board the ship, with the entire crew under quarantine.
Mpox, characterized by pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms, is generally mild but canbe fatal. The clade 1b variant has raised concerns due to its apparent ease of transmission through close contact.
According to the WHO, around 13 countries across the Americas have reported mpox cases involving other strainst his year.
In response, Denmark’s Bavarian Nordiciscon templating an increase in vaccine production, while Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche is considering expanding it slaboratory testing capacity.
