The first incidence of mpox clade I, a more severe variation of the disease that spreads through intimate contact, has reportedly been confirmed by Sweden.
More cases are anticipated in the region in the next few days, according to the Swedish government, which announced the first case of the type outside of Africa on Thursday.
“We have also received confirmation this afternoon that there is one case of the more serious form of mpox in Sweden, which is known as clade I,” Health and Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed stated during a press conference on Thursday.
In response to an outbreak of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has spread to other nations, the World Health Organization on Wednesday proclaimed the disease a worldwide public health emergency for the second time in the past two years.
As of now, neither the US nor Canada have reported any cases. This week, “occasional imported cases like the current one may continue to occur,” according to a statement released on Thursday by Sweden’s public health office.
According to a statement from Swedish state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslen, the individual had the infection while traveling to “the part of Africa where there is a major outbreak of mpox clade I,” and they have since “received care” following their visit to a hospital in Stockholm.
“The treatment of an mpox patient within the nation has no bearing on the risk to the general public, which is currently regarded as extremely low by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC),” Gisslen continued.
Following the mpox outbreak in many neighboring countries, the WHO on Wednesday announced that 548 people have died from the disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The WHO has declared a worldwide public health emergency.
