New Mpox Strain Raises Alarms Across Europe Where it May Already be Spreading

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A new and potentially more dangerous strain of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, may already be spreading undetected in Europe, with scientists expressing growing concern. The emergence of this mutant strain, known as clade 1b, has heightened fears that the virus could be silently infecting individuals with mild or asymptomatic cases, making it difficult to track and contain. The first reported case of this new strain in Europe was announced on Thursday, sparking immediate warnings from health experts and authorities.

 

Europe's leading health agency issued a statement on Friday, indicating that it was "highly likely" more cases of the new mpox strain would surface in the coming weeks. The agency also advised those traveling to Africa, particularly to regions affected by the outbreak, to consider vaccination against the virus. This warning comes as the new variant of mpox has spread rapidly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to several neighboring countries, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global health emergency.

 

Originally, mpox was thought to spread primarily through close contact with individuals exhibiting the virus's characteristic pus-filled lesions. However, recent research has suggested that the virus may also be transmitted asymptomatically, raising concerns that there could be hundreds, if not thousands, of cases that have yet to be detected. Professor Paul Hunter, a specialist in medicine at the University of East Anglia, expressed his concerns to The Telegraph, stating, "It’s likely that we’ve got infections already in Britain."

 

The United Kingdom has experienced sporadic cases of a milder form of mpox, clade 2, over the past two years. This version of the virus, which typically spreads through sexual contact, has predominantly affected gay men. Due to the nature of its transmission, most individuals infected with clade 2 tend to seek medical attention at sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics rather than visiting their general practitioner (GP). However, Professor Hunter pointed out that this could complicate the detection of the more dangerous clade 1b variant. He noted, "If a practitioner saw a patient in a clinic, there’s no way they could tell if this was clade 1b or 2 until it was sent away for testing, and so I think it’s likely there are cases here that are being missed."

 

Another challenge in identifying cases of the new variant lies in the incubation period between infection and the appearance of visual symptoms. Dr. Leandre Murhula Masirkika, a scientist at the Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles in the DRC and a leading researcher on the new strain, explained, "With clade 1b, the lesions appear within 14 days of infection." However, he cautioned that prior to the appearance of lesions, symptoms could be as subtle as a headache or fever, meaning individuals might be carrying the virus and unknowingly spreading it to others. "They might be walking around with it and be infectious," he added.

 

The potential for asymptomatic or mild cases to contribute to the virus's spread is a significant concern. Professor Trudie Lang, a global health research expert at the University of Oxford, warned that individuals with mild symptoms might inadvertently facilitate the global spread of the virus. "People with a milder infection (such as small lesions on their genitalia) could be walking around with it because they don’t know they’re infected. They might get on a plane with it, without knowing and spread it further," she explained.

 

Mpox, which was previously known as monkeypox, first garnered global attention in 2022 when it triggered an international health emergency by spreading to more than 100 countries. The DRC has been battling an epidemic of clade 1 for several years, but in September, the virus mutated into the more lethal clade 1b strain. This new variant, which is said to have a mortality rate of up to 10 percent, poses a particularly grave threat to children. Clade 1b has already been reported in several neighboring countries, including Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, as well as in Sweden, where a patient with recent travel history to Africa was diagnosed.

 

In response to the evolving situation, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has advised travelers planning to visit affected areas to seek medical advice from their GP. Dr. Mary Ramsay, Director of Public Health Programmes at UKHSA, emphasized the importance of taking precautions, stating, "Those traveling to areas affected by the ongoing outbreak should take sensible precautions to protect themselves from the risk of infection." She reassured the public, however, that "Currently the risk to most travellers is small, and vaccination against mpox infection is not recommended for the majority of people."

 

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the WHO, has underscored the severity of the outbreak, calling it "something that should concern us all." On Wednesday, the WHO declared its eighth public health emergency of international concern, the same level of alert that was issued for COVID-19 shortly before it escalated into a global pandemic in 2020.

 

As the world grapples with the emergence of this new mpox strain, the focus remains on early detection, containment, and prevention to avoid another global health crisis. The situation is being closely monitored by health authorities, and there is a concerted effort to raise awareness and encourage precautionary measures, particularly for those traveling to high-risk areas. The potential for this new variant to spread undetected underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for ongoing research and international cooperation to address this evolving threat.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph  2024-08-18

 

 

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[KhunLA]

Loving it .... new pandemic 👍

 

All MSM pushing the hell out it, along with vaccine of course.   

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Already talking taking precaution, work at home again.   Can't wait for the lock downs & masks 

 

I guess the world / middle class has recovered too fast from the last pandemic, and needs to get knocked down again.

 

All just my opinion of course.  Just look at the thread titles now ... Mpox Mpox Mpox

 

Hook line & sinker ... 

Edited August 23 by KhunLA