Sweden Records First Case of Contagious New Variant of Mpox Outside Africa
In a significant development, Sweden’s public health agency has reported the first case of a contagious new variant of mpox outside the African continent. The infected person contracted the disease during a stay in an area of Africa where a major outbreak of mpox Clade 1 is currently ongoing.
This news comes shortly after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of mpox in parts of Africa as a public health emergency of international concern. The initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo claimed the lives of at least 450 people, and the disease has since spread to central and east Africa.
According to Olivia Wigzell, the acting head of the Swedish public health agency, the infected individual sought treatment in the Stockholm area, but there is no immediate risk to the broader population. Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is transmitted through close contact and can cause flu-like symptoms, skin lesions, and in severe cases, death.
There are two types of mpox, Clade 1 and Clade 2. While Clade 2 caused a public health emergency in 2022, it was relatively mild with around 300 cases identified in Sweden. However, Clade 1 is believed to be more severe with a higher mortality rate.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control highlighted that symptoms of mpox typically appear 6-13 days after infection and include fevers, headaches, rashes, sores, and muscle aches. While most individuals experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover fully, those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk.
The Swedish public health agency emphasized that Clade 1 is more commonly spread through close contacts within households, particularly affecting children, while the milder variant is primarily transmitted through sexual contact. Vigilance and preventive measures are crucial in containing the spread of this potentially deadly disease.
