Cargo Ship Quarantined in Argentina Over Suspected Mpox Case

A Liberian-flagged cargo ship has been quarantined in the Parana River near Argentina's Rosario port due to a suspected mpox case. A crew member exhibited symptoms, prompting tests and quarantine. The World Health Organization recently declared mpox a global emergency, with new cases appearing globally.

Argentine authorities have quarantined a cargo ship in the Parana River near the inland grains port of Rosario over a suspected case of mpox onboard, an industry official said on Tuesday. Fernando Morales, president of the Argentine Naval League, confirmed that a Liberian-flagged ship set to pick up soy cargo had been ordered to drop anchor in the river while a test on a crew member was carried out.

A crew member with fever and weakness was taken to a hospital in San Nicolas. Preliminary tests suggest it could be mpox," Morales said, emphasizing that the diagnosis was not yet confirmed. The World Health Organization last week declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years as a new variant of the virus spread rapidly in Africa. A day later, a case of the clade 1b variant was confirmed in Sweden, the first indication of its spread outside Africa.

Mpox, a viral infection that causes pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms, is usually mild but can be fatal. The clade 1b variety raises concerns due to its easier transmission through routine close contact. Morales mentioned that health authorities were guarding the ship and would examine other members of the crew.

According to WHO data from last week, some 13 countries have reported mpox cases caused by other strains across the Americas this year. Argentina has previously recorded eight cases. Denmark's Bavarian Nordic is set to decide this week on whether to ramp up vaccine production, while Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche has said it is looking to boost its laboratory testing capacity.