The Ina-lotte: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On August 21, 2023, in a briefing in Santa Fe, Carolina Cudós, the provincial director of Epidemiology, addressed concerns regarding a suspected monkeypox case linked to a crew member aboard the 'Ina Lotte'. The individual had exhibited symptoms aligning with mpox, prompting isolation measures in San Lorenzo's port area. Cudós confirmed that tests returned negative for monkeypox; however, they did indicate a positive result for chickenpox. Consequently, appropriate health protocols were promptly enacted to ensure the safety of the community. Cudós emphasized the importance of timely alerts and actions taken to safeguard the population from potential health threats.

In a significant health alert, Argentine officials have placed the cargo ship 'Ina Lotte' under quarantine on the Parana River due to a suspected case of mpox onboard. This precautionary measure was announced on August 20, 2024, amidst rising concerns from global health authorities about a rapidly spreading variant of the virus. The 'Ina Lotte' had recently arrived from Santos to load a soybean shipment. While approaching the inland grain port of Rosario, the vessel notified authorities of a crew member exhibiting cyst-like skin lesions primarily on the chest and face, who hails from India. Following the report, health emergency protocols were promptly invoked, isolating the affected individual from other crew members. The ship, initially bound for San Lorenzo in Santa Fe province, was anchored in the river, where only medical personnel were permitted to board, leaving the rest of the crew in quarantine while awaiting test results. This incident comes on the heels of the World Health Organization (WHO) reclassifying the mpox virus as a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, driven by the rapid transmission of a new variant across Africa.