Argentina quarantines cargo ship due to suspected mpox case

Argentine authorities have quarantined a cargo ship on the Parana River due to a suspected mpox case on board, the government announced on Tuesday.

Reuters reported that the Liberian-flagged vessel, en route from Santos, Brazil to collect soy cargo, was halted near Argentina’s Rosario port after a crew member showed cyst-like lesions, mainly on the chest and face.

The individual has been isolated, and the ship is now anchored in the river as per public health emergency protocols. Medical personnel are the only ones permitted to board the ship, and the entire crew will remain in quarantine until test results are confirmed.

Global health officials remain vigilant over a rapidly spreading new variant of the virus.

Mpox, characterised by pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms, is generally mild but can be fatal. The clade 1b variant, which is spreading more easily through close contact, has heightened concerns.

So far this year, 13 countries in the Americas have reported mpox cases of various strains. Argentina has recorded eight cases, but none of the clade 1b variant.

Denmark’s Bavarian Nordic is considering increasing vaccine production, and Roche is expanding its testing capacity.

Updated information (22 August):

Argentine health officials have announced that a test conducted to determine whether a crew member on a quarantined grain cargo ship was infected with the mpox virus had returned a negative result, Reuters reported.

The health ministry also stated that while the individual tested negative for mpox, he was found to be positive for chickenpox.