Immediate Measures on the Paraná River
Argentine authorities have stepped up their surveillance following the appearance of monkeypox symptoms in a crew member of a cargo ship. In response, it has been decided to inspect and quarantine the vessel, identified as Ina-Lotte, which is anchored in the Paraná River, off the town of San Lorenzo.
Medical Intervention and Quarantine Protocol
A spokesman for Argentina’s Ministry of Health has confirmed that the border health service will board the ship to assess the situation. Doctors will verify whether the symptoms presented by the crew member are compatible with monkeypox, and if so, samples will be taken for analysis. In the meantime, the crew will remain in quarantine pending the results.
International Context and Regional Response
This development comes at a time when the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency due to an outbreak of monkeypox in several regions of Africa. Argentina, along with other Latin American countries such as Colombia and Mexico, has implemented enhanced surveillance measures at its borders to contain any possible contagion.
The Threat of Clade 1b
The most recent variant of the virus, known as clade 1b, is causing concern due to its virulence. This clade has spread rapidly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has reached other African countries that had previously reported no cases. Unlike clade 2, which was responsible for the 2022 outbreak, clade 1b poses a higher risk to public health.
WHO dismisses comparisons with COVID-19
WHO Director for Europe Hans Kluge has clarified that monkeypox should not be considered a new pandemic similar to COVID-19. During a recent conference, Kluge stressed that although further research is required on the clade 1b strain, there is confidence that effective measures can be implemented to control its spread.
The Key: International Coordination
Kluge called for a coordinated response among countries to eradicate the transmission of monkeypox. ‘We know how to control this disease, and there are already protocols in Europe that, if properly applied, will make it possible to eliminate its spread,’ he said, stressing the importance of international cooperation in managing health crises.