The Biden-Harris administration is closely monitoring the spread of clade I mpox in preparation for a possible outbreak.
August 23, 2024, published at 5:00 PM ET
The Biden–Harris The administration admitted that they are closely monitoring rising cases of the highly contagious mpox disease.
In the wake of the pandemic, there are growing concerns about the rapid spread of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, outside Africa.
Following the surge of cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the U.S. federal government established an “incident response structure” across all agencies as a proactive “domestic preparedness” measure. RadarOnline.com can reveal.
Article continues below advertisement
The WHO has restored the status of clade I mpox as a public health emergency of international concern.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has the status of clade I mpox declared a public health emergency of international concern on August 21, as the virus spread beyond the DRC.
Sweden announced the first recorded case of clade I mpox on August 22.
Article continues below advertisement
Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner, director of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, announced that the agency has raised the MPox risk level from “very low” to “low,” while emphasizing the increasing need for preparedness.
Rendi-Wagner said: “Due to the close links between Europe and Africa, we must be prepared for more imported clade I cases.”
Although the CDC confirmed that no cases of clade Impox have been reported in the US, officials warned that monitoring the spread of cases from Africa must be taken seriously.
Article continues below advertisement
Sweden registered its first clade I mpox case this week.
Article continues below advertisement
UCLA epidemiologist Anne Rimoin said, “I think we have to be very, very careful when we say this is more dangerous.”
“The data on severity and associated mortality – that’s all scarce. There are many questions about whether or not the perceived severity is more related to the population in which it is spreading, their immune system, the route of transmission. , the infectious dose.”
Article continues below advertisement
The mpox variant is believed to be more severe than clade II, which broke out in 2022.
MORE ABOUT:
POLITICS
Article continues below advertisement
Because clade I is considered a more severe and transmissible variant of clade II mpox, which was the cause of the 2022 global outbreak. Therefore, immunocompromised individuals, especially those with advanced, untreated HIV, are said to be at greater risk for severe disease, hospitalizations and death, according to NBC News.
As of 2022, the US continues to have a low spread of clad II cases.
Article continues below advertisement
Virologist Dr. Dan Barouch of Harvard Medical School further warned that cases of clade I mpox were likely to be reported in the US.
Barouch said: “The absolute risk in the US is currently low. Although we must remain vigilant.”
CDC officials first warned of possible clade I cases in December. The agency updated its advice on August 7.
Article continues below advertisement
Although the clade I risk in the US would be low, experts warn that the country must be ‘vigilant’.
Article continues below advertisement
A recent study revealed promising results of the antiviral drug TPOXX in a clinical trial in the DRC. Although the vaccine did not reduce clade I symptoms, only 1.7 percent of patients died, compared to the typical DRC death rate of 3.6 percent or higher.
Dr. Jennifer McQuiston, epidemiologist and leader of the CDC mpox clade I response, believed the study held promise for patients receiving higher quality health care in the US. Nevertheless, the agency remains vigilant about early detection and monitoring the spread of cases worldwide.
McQuiston added: “We’re more concerned about clade I than clade II.”
Article continues below advertisement