The EU’s public health body has said it is “highly likely” Europe will have “more imported cases of mpox” after the virus was detected in at least 16 African nations.
People should get vaccinated against mpox if travelling to an African country affected by the latest outbreak, the EU’s public health body has said.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has updated its advice after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global emergency following the detection of a more contagious strain of the virus in 16 African countries.
The outbreak of the strain – called clade 1b – was first detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The endemic form of the virus, clade 1, has also been spreading throughout Africa.
More than 17,000 mpox cases and at least 571 deaths have been confirmed in Africa this year, officials have said. The figures exceed last year’s totals.
The UK has been preparing for cases after a person in Sweden was found to have the clade 1b strain of mpox.
The disease, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral infection that causes pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms. It is usually mild but can kill.
It is passed on through close physical contact and symptoms include a high temperature, headache, muscle aches, backache, and a rash.
Following its latest risk assessment, the ECDC said it is “highly likely” Europe will have “more imported cases of mpox caused by the clade I virus currently circulating in Africa”.
It therefore increased its risk level assessment from “low” to “moderate” in relation to the chance of sporadic cases appearing in EU countries.
However, the ECDC has said “strengthened surveillance and preparedness activities” as well as “robust healthcare” across Europe means the impact of mpox on the continent “will be low”.
As part of measures to try and prevent the spread of the virus, the public health body is also advising travellers to “epidemic areas” to “consult their healthcare provider or travel health clinic regarding eligibility for vaccination against mpox”.