United States identifies first case of new strain of Mpox in traveler

Health authorities reported this Saturday (16) that they confirmed the first case in United States of the new strain of mpox (formerly called monkeypox). According to the Department of Public Health of Californiathe infected person had traveled to East Africa and received treatment in Northern California upon returning. Symptoms are improving, and the risk to the public is considered low. The patient remains isolated at home, and health professionals are contacting people close to them as a precautionary measure, the US state health department said. Earlier this year, scientists reported the emergence of a new strain of mpox in eastern Congo, in Africatransmitted through close contact, including through sexual intercourse.

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It was widespread in east and central Africa. Since the end of September, more than 3,100 confirmed cases have been reported, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The vast majority occurred in three African countries: Burundi, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Health officials reported earlier this month that the situation in Congo appears to be stabilizing. The Africa CDC has estimated that Congo needs at least 3 million mpox vaccines to contain the spread and another 7 million for the rest of Africa.

Transmission occurs mainly through sexual contact, in addition to close contact between children, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups. Since then, cases of the new form of mpox have been recorded in travelers in Germany, India, Kenya, Sweden, Thailand, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. For now, in cases identified in travelers outside the continent, spread has been very limited, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
Published by Matheus Lopes