Sweden has recently reported a case of the more severe clade I variant of mpox, marking the first time this strain has been detected outside of ongoing outbreaks in African countries. The case was diagnosed in a patient who had been infected in an African region where this particular strain of the virus is spreading. This announcement comes shortly after the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak in several African countries a global health emergency, the second such declaration in the past two years.
The majority of cases and fatalities from the current outbreak are concentrated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the virus also being identified in at least 12 other countries in Africa. The emergence of the new clade of mpox and its rapid spread in eastern DRC, as well as cases in neighbouring countries, have raised concerns.
Despite the seriousness of this new clade, the Swedish public health agency has stated that the case detected in the country does not pose a risk to the general population. Previously, around 300 cases of mpox in Sweden were linked to the 2022 global outbreak caused by clade II.
The WHO Director-General has emphasized the need for a coordinated international response to address these outbreaks and protect lives. Clade I of the mpox virus, with its more severe symptoms and higher mortality rates, is endemic to central Africa. The Swedish case indicates the global reach of the virus and the importance of continued vigilance and timely responses to prevent further spread.
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