Italy raises mpox alert level

Rome: The health ministry on Friday said Italy has raised diagnostic surveillance for mpox, noting that the situation is under control.

“The epidemiological situation in Italy at the moment is under control as no cases have been ascertained of the new strain (clade I) of mpox”, the ministry said.

"Our offices are in constant contact with international organizations to elaborate shared measures", said Mara Campitiello, the head of the ministry's department for prevention.

On Friday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) raised its risk alert level for mpox, urging countries to maintain high awareness levels among travellers visiting from affected areas.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years after an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo that spread to neighbouring countries in Africa.