Spain on ‘high alert’ as major airport to enforce controls to stop mpox spread as experts warn of ‘explosion of cases’

SPAIN is about to ramp up its border controls to stop cases of a mutant strain mpox getting into the country amid fears of an explosion of cases in Europe. It comes as Thailand detected its first suspected infection in a European traveller who had recently been to Africa. 4 Madrid's main airport is poised to put mpox controls in place Some countries in Asia, including South Korea , China and Pakistan , are taking similar preemptive actions in a bid to stop a national pandemic, according to local reports.

This stands in contrast to the UK where health officials are yet to tighten border health controls. The rapid spread of the new mpox strain – known as clade 1b – in Africa prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare a public health emergency earlier this month. At the time, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is "of great concern".

Read more on mpox POX FEARS UK could see ‘explosion’ of mpox in 2 WEEKS as threat of 'double outbreak' grows VIRAL ALERT NHS on ‘high alert’ for mpox as interactive map reveals 16 virus hotspots "Stopping these outbreaks will require a tailored (situation-specific) and comprehensive response, with communities at the centre," he added. Experts have also previously told the Sun the disease could easily spread via international travel . Madrid's health and environment officials have called on the Government to reinforce controls at Barajas - Madrid's main airport.

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