Rospotrebnadzor says no threat to Russia due to outbreak of monkeypox in China
The cluster outbreak of monkeypox caused by the clade Ib virus (mpox clade Ib) in China does not indicate the formation of new threats to Russia in the context of the current global public health emergency. This was reported on January 10 by the press service of Rospotrebnadzor.
The agency noted that in 2024, the epicenter of the spread of smallpox of monkeys was Central Africa, where, in addition to the long-known clade of the virus, spreads identified in 2023 - clade Ib. The main foci of the disease on the continent are the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi and Uganda.
"Outbreaks of monkeypox in Africa have caused the introduction of clade Ib into several countries on other continents. A group case of monkeypox has been identified in China, consisting of a foreign national who traveled and lived in the DRC and four other individuals who came into close contact with him and have mild symptoms," the agency points out.
It added that Rospotrebnadzor specialists monitor all risks of sanitary and epidemiological nature around the clock.
"In the Russian Federation, measures were taken in advance to detect smallpox of monkeys. In Russia, within the framework of the federal project "Sanitary Shield" at all checkpoints, enhanced sanitary-quarantine control is carried out using AIS "Perimeter". <...> The situation is under constant control, the risks of spreading the disease in the Russian Federation are excluded", - stated in the message.
In December last year, the head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova said that the spread of a severe strain of smallpox of monkeys (mpox clade Ib) is impossible on the territory of Russia. She specified that the Russian Federation actively supports African countries in the fight against this virus, providing them with various technologies and tests. Popova added that Russia is in close contact with colleagues from Africa and consults them.
Earlier, on November 29, the WHO reported that at least 13 thousand laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox (mpox) have been registered in the African region since the beginning of 2024. Meanwhile, November 23, it became known about the first case of infection with a severe strain of monkeypox mpox slade lb in Canada in the province of Manitoba.
Also on November 16, it was reported about the first case of infection with mpox slade Ib in the United States. According to health officials, the ill person recently returned from East Africa, where the outbreak of mpox continues.
