Argentine Authorities Quarantine Transport Ship Gandum Regarding Alleged Monkeypox

The ship is on the Parana River. (Wikimedia Commons/Claudio Elias)

JAKARTA - Argentine authorities quarantined a cargo ship on the Parana River over an alleged case of mpox (masspox) on board, the government said on Tuesday, while global public health authorities remain vigilant against new virus variants that spread faster.

The quarantined Liberian-flagged ship sailed from Santos, Brazil - which is also the main commodity hub - to pick up soybean cargo, according to the Ministry of Health and the Argentine Navy industry body.

The ship near Argentina's inland wheat port in Rosario told authorities, "one of its Indian crew members showed skin lesions such as cysts especially on the chest and face," the ministry said in a statement, adding the person had been isolated from other crew members.

The ministry said the public health emergency protocol was then activated and the ship, which had headed to the San Lorenzo port in Santa Fe Province, had to lower its anchor in the river.

Only medics can board the ship, while all crew members will be asked to be quarantined pending test results, the ministry added.

It is known that the World Health Organization (WHO) last week declaredmpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years as the new variant of the virus spread rapidly in Africa. A day later, cases of the 1b klade variant were confirmed in Sweden, the first sign of its spread outside Africa.

Mpox, a viral infection that causes lesions to contain pus and flu-like symptoms, is usually mild but can be deadly. The 1b Strain klade has raised concerns as it seems to spread more easily through regular close contacts.

Sekitar 13 negara telah melaporkan kasus mpox yang disebabkan oleh strain lain di seluruh Amerika tahun ini, menurut data WHO hingga minggu lalu. Argentina sebelumnya telah mencatat delapan kasus, meski tidak ada yang merupakan strain klade 1b.