Sweden has reported its first case of mpox, just a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global public health emergency. Notably, this is the first instance of the clade I variant of the mpox virus being identified outside of Africa.
The patient, who sought medical care in Stockholm, is infected with the clade I variant of mpox. According to Sweden’s Public Health Agency, this case is significant because it marks the first time this particular strain has appeared outside Africa.
The patient likely contracted the virus during a trip to a region in Africa where a major outbreak of the clade I variant is currently ongoing, said state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslen. However, Gisslen assured that this single case does not pose a significant risk to the general population, with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) currently assessing the risk as very low.
The WHO’s recent declaration of mpox as a global public health emergency follows a concerning outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that has spread to neighboring countries. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed serious concerns about the new clade’s rapid spread and the need for a coordinated international response to manage the outbreaks and protect lives.
The WHO’s decision to declare a global emergency came after advice from an independent committee of experts. Last week, the WHO also called on mpox vaccine manufacturers to express interest in Emergency Use Listing (EUL) due to the alarming rise in cases, particularly in Africa.
The new mpox strain, which first appeared in September 2023, has now been detected outside the DRC for the first time.
What is Mpox?
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral illness primarily spread through close contact with an infected person or animal. Transmission can occur through direct contact with body fluids, skin lesions, respiratory droplets, or contaminated items like bedding. Animals can also transmit the virus to humans through bites, scratches, or contact with their bodily fluids.
Symptoms typically appear 5 to 21 days after exposure and include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion. A distinctive rash usually starts on the face and spreads to other parts of the body, progressing through stages from macules to crusts that eventually fall off. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals with mpox are contagious from the onset of symptoms until the lesions have completely healed and a new layer of skin has formed. The infectious period generally lasts between 2 to 4 weeks.
