New monkeypox variant detected in Belgium sparks global concern
The first case of the new, more contagious variant of monkeypox has been diagnosed in Belgium, as reported by the ECDC and Sciensano. It is a disease that may threaten the health and safety of thousands of people worldwide, with the WHO monitoring and closely observing its development.
Belgium has confirmed the first case of the new, more contagious monkeypox variant, as reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Belgian health institute Sciensano.
Belgium has become the fourth country in Europe and the eighth in the world outside Africa where this variant has been detected.
The new strain, known as clade I, is characterised by higher mortality. A patient from Wallonia contracted the virus during sexual contact with an infected person in one of the African countries.
Upon returning to Belgium, he was diagnosed using a PCR test and placed in isolation. It was determined that he had no close contacts upon his return, minimising the risk of virus spread in Belgium.
Monkeypox becoming more dangerous, WHO warns
Clade I of monkeypox was recently discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, cases have been reported in Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and several countries in Asia.
Monkeypox is a viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans and through intimate contact. It was first identified in laboratory monkeys in Denmark in 1958, although in Africa, rodents are the primary carriers.
Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and a rash. There are two strains of the virus: the milder clade II, which is found in over 100 countries, and the more deadly clade I. In August, the WHO declared monkeypox a global health threat.
Just as before the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO is monitoring the situation and continuously tracking the development of the monkeypox virus. If the situation becomes as difficult as it was in the autumn and winter of 2019, safety procedures will be implemented. Unfortunately, years ago, they helped little, and COVID-19 quickly spread worldwide.
