A major airport in Spain is enforcing strict controls amid fears of an “explosion” of Mpox cases as the disease can spread by touch.
Spanish authorities are on “high alert” as Madrid’s airport are enforcing tighter controls to prevent an epidemic.
Health and environmental bosses are urging government officials in Madrid to make more checks at the airport with tougher screening of people travelling from countries affected with the deadly disease, particularly those travelling from Africa.
The Mirror reported that John Claude Udahemuka, a University of Rwanda lecturer involved in the medical response to mpox, warned, “It’s undoubtedly the most dangerous of all the known strains of mpox, considering how it is transmitted, how it is spread, and also the symptoms.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data shows that 13 countries have Mpox infections and have declared a “public health emergency” as cases continue to surge.
Udahemuka added, “Everyone should get prepared. Everyone should be able to detect the disease as early as possible.
“But more important, everyone should support the local research and local response so that it doesn’t spread.”
Carlos Novillo, Madrid’s head of the environment has insisted the Ministry of Health “take preventive measures, especially in Barajas, an important airport that registers a large flow of travellers daily instead of just being reactive.”
WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said, “Significant efforts are already underway in close collaboration with communities and governments, with our country teams working on the frontlines to help reinforce measures to curb mpox. With the growing spread of the virus, we’re scaling up further through coordinated international action to support countries bring the outbreaks to an end.”
Committee Chair Professor Dimie Ogoina added, “The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency, not only for Africa, but for the entire globe.
“Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself.”
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