A new case of a highly contagious Mpox variant has been detected in the province of Buenos Aires, raising concerns among health specialists as cases also rise in neighboring Bolivia, according to an April 4 report. Gustavo Echenique, an infectious disease doctor, explained the characteristics of the virus and preventive measures in an interview with El Tribuno de Jujuy.
Echenique said that a new subclade of the Mpox virus, known as 1B, shows higher transmissibility and can cause more severe symptoms compared to subclade 2, which was responsible for most cases during the global outbreak in 2022. The appearance of this variant has led experts to urge increased caution to prevent further spread.
Mpox—formerly called monkeypox—was renamed to avoid stigma. The virus was first identified in 1952 and human cases were initially reported in central African countries starting from 1970. During the worldwide outbreak in 2022, over 120,000 cases were recorded across more than 120 countries outside Africa.
Echenique said transmission occurs mainly through close contact with skin lesions on infected individuals but can also happen via respiratory droplets or contaminated objects such as towels or clothing. The incubation period is around three weeks before symptoms appear.
Common symptoms include high fever, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes or lesions that may start on the face before spreading elsewhere on the body. These lesions typically contain fluid and later form scabs. The illness usually lasts between two and four weeks.
Although often associated with sexual transmission, Echenique clarified that infection results from close skin-to-skin contact or shared objects rather than exclusively sexual activity. Argentina saw over a thousand cases during the 2022 outbreak; numbers have since declined but isolated infections continue to be reported each year.
Currently there are about six active cases nationwide—including one involving subclade 1B—which has prompted heightened epidemiological alert. Jujuy registered several cases during the previous outbreak; therefore ongoing surveillance remains crucial alongside prompt medical consultation if symptoms develop.
Echenique concluded by stressing “the importance of early detection and isolation of suspected cases to prevent further spread.”
