Sweden has reported a case of the more severe clade I variant of mpox, the first detection of this strain outside of Africa. The patient was infected in an area where this strain is spreading and sought care in Stockholm. This comes after the WHO declared the current outbreak of mpox in Africa a global health emergency, the second such declaration in two years.
The majority of cases and deaths from the outbreak are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the virus also detected in 12 other African countries. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for a coordinated international response to contain the outbreaks and save lives.
Clade I of mpox causes more severe illness and higher mortality than clade II, which caused the 2022 global outbreak. Swedish officials reassured the public that the case in their country does not pose a risk to the general population. Previously, around 300 cases of mpox linked to the 2022 outbreak had been detected in Sweden.
This case highlights the ongoing threat of mpox and the need for continued vigilance and international cooperation to prevent further spread of the virus. The global community must work together to address this public health emergency and protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of this deadly disease.
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Photo credit www.euronews.com
