Sweden Confirms First Clade I Mpox Case Outside Africa

Aug 15, 2024, 03:56 PM

Sweden has confirmed its first case of the more contagious Clade I variant of mpox, marking the first occurrence of this strain outside Africa. The announcement was made by Sweden's Public Health Agency and coincides with the World Health Organization's declaration of mpox as a global public health emergency. This variant, known for its higher transmissibility, has been spreading rapidly in Africa, with significant outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Swedish case involves a person who recently traveled to an affected region. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely to prevent further transmission. Sweden's Minister of Social Affairs, Jakob Forssmed, announced the case, which is also Europe's first.