With monkeypox now declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), international travel is under increased scrutiny as the virus, normally confined to certain parts of Africa, is spreading rapidly throughout the world.
But infectious disease experts are not convinced that travel restrictions are needed to help contain the spread, even as cases rise.
Globally, more than 16,000 cases have been reported in 75 countries, according to the WHO, as of July 22. Canada has confirmed 681 cases of monkeypox as of July 23, but those numbers are expected to rise, the Public Health Agency of Canada said. .
Read more: Monkey pox is now a global health threat. But the risk isn’t necessarily higher in Canada, experts say
The growing threat of monkeypox has raised alarm in countries unaccustomed to seeing such an increase, as much is still unknown about the rare zoonotic infectious disease.
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“It’s still a relatively new disease, basically entering a new population and going unchecked, and we run the risk that, like COVID, it could become established,” said Michael Libman, an infectious disease specialist and director of the JD MacLean Center at Tropical Medicine at McGill.
Gerald Evans, an infectious disease specialist at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, says monkeypox doesn’t have the same ability to spread as COVID-19.
“I don’t think there is a pandemic declaration for monkeypox, mainly because it doesn’t have the same capacity for mass transmission that we saw with COVID-19,” he said.
1:56 Hundreds of monkeypox cases reported in Canada Hundreds of monkeypox cases reported in Canada
According to the International Health Regulations (IHR), when a “public health emergency of international concern” is declared, international efforts are needed to stop the spread of the virus. This could include sharing vaccines and treatments between countries and taking measures related to travel.
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In view of the evolution of the outbreak, the WHO has recommended that anyone with symptoms, including body rash, fever, headache, muscle pain and fatigue, avoid travel. That said, it does not recommend “general or specific measures related to international travel” to stop the spread.
Read more: Canada confirms 681 cases of monkeypox as WHO declares global health emergency
Last month, PHAC issued a travel advisory, advising travelers to practice enhanced health precautions.
The United States, Australia, France, India and South Africa are among the dozens of countries listed in Canada’s Tier 2 advisory.
“As the monkeypox outbreak evolves, the Government of Canada will continue to work with WHO, international partners and with Canadian provinces and territories to determine the best courses of action to limit the spread of monkeypox in Canada ” PHAC said in an email response. to Global News when asked if there would be changes to the travel advisory in light of the WHO’s emergency declaration.
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Are travel restrictions necessary?
Although cases are rising, experts see no need to restrict international travel as countries did when COVID-19 was characterized as a global pandemic more than two years ago.
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“I don’t think the disease itself is causing enough disruption and destruction that it would make sense to do something as drastic as shutting down large parts of the global economy,” Libman said.
“Travel is an important piece of the puzzle, but restricting travel at this point is highly unlikely to solve the problem,” he added.
Read more: Tourists among those getting monkeypox vaccinations in Montreal as global emergency declared
Monkey pox is primarily transmitted through prolonged close contact, and the majority of cases reported in the current outbreak involve men who had intimate sexual contact with other men.
That makes monkeypox relatively less contagious compared to COVID-19, which can also spread through the air, Libman said.
Monkeypox disease is usually mild, with most people recovering on their own after a few weeks. Since January 2022, only five deaths have been reported worldwide.
As the virus has already spread around the world, experts are also questioning the value of reimposing travel measures that have now been eased following pandemic-related closures.
“Restricting travel at this time will have no impact,” Evans said. “I don’t think there’s an elevation of any concern about travel to specific areas.”
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1:53 Monkeypox: With cases up 59% in Canada, what are the signs you need to know? Monkeypox: With cases rising 59% in Canada, what are the signs you need to know? – July 15, 2022
While Canada has eased travel restrictions related to COVID-19 this year, some still remain at points of entry, including random testing on arrival.
According to experts, detecting monkeypox among travelers will be much more complicated, as it involves looking for and sampling lesions.
“This is not like a COVID-19 test where you just rub someone’s throat or nose,” Evans said.
“I think the best thing we do now is to simply inform people if they have traveled abroad, especially if they are in a group with some behaviors that put them at risk, to be diligent in looking for the possibility that they may have the injury” , added.
Read more: Vaccine recommended for Canadians at high risk of monkeypox exposure
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Depending on how the virus continues to evolve, it could lead to some travel uncertainty in the future, as infection rates, cultures and even politics can influence how countries choose to respond, said Kerry Bowman, professor in Bioethics and Global Health at the University of Toronto. .
“What happens is that you have a global statement, but it’s up to many, many nations in this world to make decisions about what they’re going to do individually about it,” he said.
To control the monkeypox situation, Libman stressed the need for vaccination, education and behavior change.
“Hopefully, we’ll be able to change this thing in a way that we haven’t been able to do with COVID,” he said.
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