China tightens border controls as global mpox risk rises with new strain

Authorities in China are ramping up efforts to prevent the monkeypox (mpox) virus from entering the country. 

On Friday, the General Administration of Customs announced tighter surveillance measures for people and goods arriving from regions affected by mpox. Travelers displaying symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle pain, or rashes are required to report their condition upon entry.

Additionally, contaminated or potentially contaminated vehicles and goods will undergo mandatory sanitation procedures. These measures, which took effect on August 15, will remain in place for six months.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency earlier this week due to its spread beyond its endemic regions in Africa. The virus has been particularly prevalent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where two strains are circulating: the original clade I and the more lethal variant, clade Ib.

In response to the escalating situation, the WHO convened an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss ways to ensure fair global access to testing, treatments and vaccines. Spokesperson Margaret Harris noted that increased monitoring is expected to lead to the detection of more cases outside of Africa. However, the WHO has not recommended any travel restrictions.

Globally, health organizations are pushing for more resources to combat the mpox outbreak in Africa. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent have called for increased shipments of diagnostic tools, treatments and vaccines to Africa to effectively manage the situation. The vaccine alliance Gavi has also committed up to $500 million to help distribute vaccines to affected regions.

Meanwhile, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) raised its risk level for the mpox epidemic on Friday, following the confirmation of the first case of a new strain outside Africa in Sweden.

The ECDC has cautioned that Europe may see more imported cases of the new strain, known as clade Ib, in the coming weeks, though the risk of widespread transmission remains low. "Due to the close links between Europe and Africa, we must be prepared for more imported clade I cases," said ECDC Director Pamela Rendi Wagner.

Mpox is a viral disease that causes skin lesions filled with pus, along with flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes. It primarily spreads through close physical contact. While the disease is generally mild, it can occasionally be fatal. The newer variant, clade Ib, is more deadly, with a higher mortality rate than previous strains, sparking concerns about its potential spread beyond Africa.

According to data from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 2,000 new mpox cases were reported in the past week alone. Since January 2022, more than 38,000 cases and over 1,400 deaths have been recorded across 16 countries in Africa, highlighting the growing severity of the outbreak.