Sweden has confirmed its first case of the mpox Clade I strain, a more dangerous variant of the viral infection that spreads through close contact. This marks the first time this particular strain has been detected outside of Africa.
Health and Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed made the announcement on Thursday, confirming the presence of the Clade I variant in the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to other regions.
Swedish state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslen reported that the individual contracted the infection during a trip to a part of Africa currently experiencing a significant outbreak of the Clade I variant.
The patient sought medical attention upon returning to Stockholm and has since received the necessary care.
Gisslen assured the public that the presence of a mpox case within the country does not pose a significant risk to the general population. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has also assessed the risk level as very low.
The WHO reported that 548 people have lost their lives to mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo this year alone. The organisation declared a global public health emergency in response to the outbreak, which has also affected several neighbouring countries.
In addition, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared mpox a public health emergency across the continent earlier this week.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasised the need for a coordinated international response to these outbreaks, stressing that it is crucial to save lives and prevent further spread of the disease.
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