Argentina Quarantines Cargo Ship Over Suspected Case Of Mpox

Argentine authorities have quarantined a cargo ship over a suspected case of mpox onboard. According to the country's health ministry, the cargo ship raised the alert after one of its crew members of Indian nationality showed “cyst-like skin lesions predominantly on the chest and face."

A Reuters report mentioned that the quarantined Liberian-flagged ship was sailing from Santos, Brazil, to pick up soy cargo. Authorities have reportedly activated a public emergency protocol and quarantined the vessel, with crew members not allowed to deboard. The ministry said that only medical personnel will be able to board the ship, and the whole crew will be required to quarantine until test results are available. 

Last week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency. This comes as the new variant of the virus is spreading rapidly in Africa. Around 13 countries have reported mpox cases in 2024. Apart from some African nations, Pakistan, Sweden, and the Philippines are the countries that have declared mpox cases recently. Reports suggest that Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is usually mild but can prove fatal to people with weakened immune systems.