China announced on Thursday that it had recorded five cases of a new Mpox strain, but assured the public that the “outbreak has been effectively handled.”
Mpox, a virus transmitted to humans by animals, can also spread through close physical contact. It causes symptoms like fever, muscle aches, and boil-like skin lesions, which can be fatal in some cases.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global health emergency for Mpox in August 2024, renewing it in November after a major outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where it has claimed over 1,000 lives.
Following the WHO’s August declaration, China implemented screening measures for Mpox at its borders, which lasted for six months.
On Thursday, Chinese health authorities reported a cluster outbreak of the Mpox strain Clade 1b. The infection was traced back to a patient with a history of living in the DRC. Four individuals who had close contact with the patient were also infected, showing mild symptoms such as rashes and blisters, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“All infected and at-risk individuals are receiving medical treatment and health observation, and the outbreak has been effectively managed,” the CDC stated. No additional cases have been identified among other contacts, the authority added.
Since 2022, Mpox cases have been reported in over 120 countries, according to WHO data.
AFP
