Sweden has reported the first case of the more dangerous clade I variant of mpox (monkeypox) outside of Africa, marking a significant development in the global spread of the virus. The case was detected in Stockholm in a person who had recently traveled to an affected area in Africa.This announcement comes just a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak in several African countries a global health emergency for the second time in two years. The new variant is considered more contagious and dangerous than the 2022 variant, raising concerns about its potential for further international spread.Swedish Health and Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed stated, ‘We have confirmed that in Sweden there is a case of the most severe type of smallpox, known as Clade I,’ emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. Olivia Wigzell, acting director general of the Swedish Public Health Agency, assured that the patient has received treatment and is following current guidelines.Despite the alarming nature of this development, Swedish health authorities maintain that the risk to the general population remains very low. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) supports this assessment.The current outbreak has significantly impacted several African countries, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) being the epicenter. According to Congolese Minister of Health Roger Kamba, the DRC has registered 15,664 potential cases and 548 deaths since the beginning of the year. The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stressed the need for a coordinated international response to stop these outbreaks and save lives.While Sweden had previously detected around 300 cases related to the 2022 global outbreak, this new case represents a concerning shift in the virus’s spread. Health authorities worldwide are urged to remain vigilant and prepared for potential cases of this more severe strain.
Key points
- Sweden has reported the first case of the dangerous clade I variant of mpox outside of Africa.
- The WHO has declared the mpox outbreak a global health emergency for the second time in two years.
- The new variant is considered more contagious and dangerous than the 2022 variant.
- Despite the new case, health authorities maintain that the risk to the general population remains very low.
Contradictions👾While most sources agree that this is the first case of the clade I variant outside Africa, one source refers to it as ‘type II mpox’, which may cause some confusion.
