Sweden finds mpox variant first identified in DR Congo
The World Health Organisation has confirmed that a case of the viral infection mpox in Sweden is linked to an outbreak in Africa, the first sign of its spread outside the continent a day after the agency declared the disease a global public health emergency.
Swedish health officials said at a press conference that the case was found in the Stockholm region and that the person was infected while in Africa with the clade Ib type of mpox involved in the recent outbreak.
The person is receiving treatment.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“This is of course something that we are taking seriously,” Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed said.
Olivia Wigzell of Sweden’s public health authority said there was no danger to the wider public.
“In our view, the case does not currently call for additional protection measures. But we are of course following its development closely,” she said.
Both US and Canadian officials have said they have not identified any cases so far.
The WHO on Wednesday declared the outbreak in Africa a public health emergency after cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to nearby countries.
Clade Ib, the version of the virus behind the current outbreak, is believed to cause a more serious type of mpox than the version that caused a public health emergency in 2022.
The mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, is spread by close contact.
It is related to smallpox and causes skin lesions, fever and muscular aches.
There are two vaccines but they are in short supply in Africa.
Earlier this year, scientists reported the emergence of a new form of the deadlier form of mpox, which can kill up to 10 per cent of people, in a DR Congolese mining town that they feared might spread more easily.
with DPA and AP
