New variant of virus mpox spreads, Asian countries ramp up border controls

22 August 2024 , 13:11

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Countries across Asia are ramping up their defenses against mpox following the detection of a potentially more dangerous variant.

Thailand has reported its first suspected case of the new clade 1b variant, prompting a swift action from regional health authorities.

Asian nations are intensifying surveillance and preventive efforts. The rapid spread of the new mpox strain in Africa led the World Health Organisation to declare a public health emergency last week.

A £3.1 million UK government package to tackle mpox will “ultimately benefit us all”, the Africa minister has said.

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”.

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.

James Smith