New Variant Mpox Cases Expected To Be. More In Europe

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The European Disease Prevention Agency estimates there will be more cases of imported monkeypox/mux new variants in Europe.

The agency raised the risk assessment of the sporadic case ofmpox clade I in Europe to moderate on Friday, August 16. The risk is high for tourists traveling to affected areas in Africa and making close contact with people there.

"There will be more cases in the coming weeks, that's the estimate. But regarding the risk [to] the European population in general, we have to say that our assessment is a very low risk at this time," said European Disease Prevention and Control Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner.

He called on European countries to increase preparedness and raise awareness to prevent further spread.

Thempox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo caused by two different forms of thempox, namely the endemic shape and a new branch called the clade Ib, raises global concerns after the disease spread to more countries in Africa.

On Thursday, Sweden became the first country outside Africa to confirm the clade Ib case.

The WHO declared the outbreak a global health emergency on Wednesday.

The European CDC recommends that public health authorities plan and prepare for the rapid detection of any case of clause I that may reach Europe.