The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has issued a warning stating that it is “highly likely” Europe will see more imported cases of mpox, a virus outbreak that has been declared a global health emergency. The virus, which has been spreading in Africa since last year, has so far killed over 500 people, mostly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The World Health Organization (WHO) called for a coordinated international effort to address the crisis, as multiple African countries are currently dealing with an outbreak of the virus. In response to this, the ECDC has recommended that European Union and European Economic Area countries issue travel advice for areas impacted by mpox.
While European health authorities believe the likelihood of sustained transmission in Europe is low if imported cases are diagnosed quickly and measures are taken to control them, they emphasize the importance of preparedness planning and awareness-raising activities. This includes effective surveillance, testing, and contact tracing to detect cases of mpox in Europe.
In light of this, the ECDC also recommends that travellers to affected areas consider getting vaccinated. The agency stresses the need for close monitoring and precautions to prevent the further spread of the virus in Europe. As the first imported case of a more severe strain spreading in Africa was detected in Sweden, European countries are urged to be prepared for potential future cases of mpox.
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