Cargo Ship Quarantined in Argentina Amid Mpox Scare

Argentine authorities have quarantined a Liberian-flagged cargo ship in the Parana River near Rosario due to a suspected case of Mpox onboard. The crew member, who developed cyst-like skin lesions, has been isolated, and the entire crew will remain quarantined pending test results. This follows the World Health Organization's recent declaration of Mpox as a global public health emergency, driven by a new, potentially deadlier clade Ib variant spreading rapidly in Africa. This variant has already been detected in Sweden, marking its first appearance outside Africa. Argentina has not recorded any domestic cases of the clade Ib variant, but health surveillance has been heightened. Medical personnel will conduct inspections and take samples for further study to confirm the infection.