Sweden has confirmed the first case of a highly infectious strain of the mpox virus outside Africa. This marks a significant development in the ongoing outbreak that has predominantly affected the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Swedish public health agency reported that the individual, who recently traveled to an area experiencing a major mpox outbreak in Africa, was diagnosed with the Clade 1b subclade of the virus. This variant has been responsible for a surge in cases and fatalities in Africa since late 2023.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared this outbreak a global public health emergency, citing the rapid spread of the virus across multiple countries. The mpox virus, which was formerly known as monkeypox, can be transmitted to humans through close contact with infected animals or humans. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and large boil-like skin lesions.
Despite the seriousness of this new case, Swedish authorities have assured the public that the risk of widespread transmission within the country remains low. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) also considers the general risk to the population as minimal, due to the country's preparedness to diagnose, isolate, and treat mpox cases effectively.
As the situation continues to develop, global health officials are closely monitoring the spread of this new mpox strain, especially given its higher fatality rate compared to previous variants. The ongoing outbreak in Africa has already resulted in over 14,000 cases and more than 500 deaths this year alone.