First case of the more dangerous Mpox variant outside Africa confirmed in Sweden
Sweden confirms the first case outside Africa of the more contagious and deadly clade 1 monkeypox variant
The Swedish Public Health Authority has confirmed the first case of the new monkeypox variant, known as clade 1, outside the African continent. This variant is considered more contagious and deadly than clade 2, which was the main cause of outbreaks in 2022. The affected person, who had recently visited a region of Africa affected by this variant, went to a medical center in Stockholm on their own, presenting fever, severe headache, rash and swollen lymph nodes, characteristic symptoms of the disease.
The laboratory at the medical centre confirmed the diagnosis and, after taking the necessary measures, the person was isolated in a specialised ward to prevent the spread of the virus. So far, no further infections have been recorded among the centre's staff or other patients. In addition, the establishment has undergone a thorough sterilisation process.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the monkeypox epidemic a global emergency on Wednesday, in response to the growing number of cases in Africa. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the outbreak originated, it is estimated that more than 500 people have died since the beginning of 2024 due to this variant. The new strain is spreading rapidly, affecting more than ten African countries.
Despite the seriousness of the case, Swedish authorities, led by the acting director general of the Public Health Authority, Olivia Wigzell, have stressed that the risk to the general population remains low. At a press conference, Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed said the government was taking the situation very seriously and had developed routines and systems to handle such emergencies. Epidemiologist Magnus Gisslen said the Swedish health system was prepared to diagnose, isolate and treat monkeypox patients safely.
Although 43 cases of clade 2 have been confirmed in Finland and nearly 300 in Sweden, clade 1 is a new concern due to its greater transmission capacity and lethality. However, authorities have said there are sufficient national reserves of monkeypox vaccines to deal with a possible increase in cases.