2024-08-16 07:26:13
Two days after the World Health Organization (WHO) triggered the highest level of health alert in the face of the resurgence of the epox disease in Africa, the virus continued its progress on Friday August 16. Currently, the strong movement of The disease in Africa is important because the new strain, clade 1b, is more contagious and dangerous than the previous ones.
The return of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which also affects Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, made the WHO declare a public health emergency of international concern on Wednesday, the alarm is higher than it can be caused.
China tightens immigration controls
Beijing announced on Friday that it is tightening its controls on people and goods that may have been in contact with the mpox virus. The latter transmit the viral disease of the same name – previously known as monkeypox – which is spread from animals to humans. It is also spread through physical contact with a person who has the virus. Mpox is characterized by pustules and fever.
People from countries or regions affected by mpox virus and “Those who have been exposed to issues” of illness or who “show symptoms” must “Take the initiative to express yourself to the trends” when they arrived in China, Chinese customs reported in a press release.
“Cultural workers will carry out medical measures and conduct sampling and testing in accordance with regulations”they explained. Also, transport vehicles, containers or goods coming from the affected areas “which is contaminated or likely to be contaminated” must be disinfected, according to the press release. These rates are in place from Friday and for six months.
Government of Pakistan
Pakistan reported the first case on its territory on Friday August 16. “First case of mpox confirmed in Pakistan”the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health announced in a press release, adding that the infected person comes from the Gulf country, while no case of this new variant has been reported in this region.
However, the United Arab Emirates has recorded sixteen cases of smallpox since 2022, according to the WHO. The UAE is particularly affected by the country’s outbreaks due to its role as a hub that connects the east and west of the world, with its long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways.
The strain of mpox virus that caused the case found in Pakistan was not immediately known on Friday, Pakistan’s health ministry said in a statement. The Pakistani patient, a 34-year-old man, is being treated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said Irshad Roghani, the director of public health in this province in Afghanistan. “For genetic sequencing of the strain, we sent the samples to Islamabad”added Mr. Roghani. The Ministry of Health has asked for the strengthening of border controls and monitoring at airports in the event of symptoms of the disease in passengers returning from abroad.
The Danish vaccine manufacturer wants to approve it for young people
The Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic, the manufacturer of a vaccine against mpox, announced on Friday that it has asked the European Medicines Agency to extend the use of its serum to young people aged 12 to 17 years.
“Interim results of a clinical study show the weakness of the immune responses of the vaccine against mpox and smallpox virus in young people and a similar safety profile to that of adults”écrit Bavarian Nordic is released.
In the United States, during the previous mpox epidemic in 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the emergency use of the vaccine for adolescents. The epidemic spreads partly through sexual relations, but the virus also spreads through non-sexual contacts, also threatening children in whom the disease appears more dangerous.
On Thursday, Bavarian Nordic said that it is ready to produce up to 10 million doses of the vaccine by 2025. Currently, the laboratory has some 500,000 doses in stock.
Sweden reported its first case of infection on Thursday
The day before, Sweden reported the first case of a more contagious and dangerous variant of the mpox virus, whose disease has killed at least 548 people since the beginning of the year in the DRC, the most affected country. The patient was infected during the visit “part of Africa where there is a large epidemic of mpox clade 1”Epidemiologist Magnus Gisslen said, in a press release from the agency.
The first case was found in Sweden, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus “Shows the need for the countries involved to fight the virus together.” In line with the measures introduced by Beijing, the WHO head encouraged on Friday X “All countries to strengthen surveillance, share data and work to better understand the transmission of the virus”.
Europe must “prepare” for an increase in cases
European Union countries must prepare for a rise in mpox cases, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said. The agency “recommends that health authorities maintain a high preparedness plan (…) to enable rapid detection and response to any new issues”he said in a press release. “Because of the close links between Europe and Africa, we must prepare for a large number of imported clade 1 cases”underlines Pamela Rendi-Wagner, director of ECDC.
A sharp increase in cases of mpox, especially in Central Africa, prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to trigger the highest international alert level on Thursday.
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