Sweden reports first case of more dangerous mpox variant outside Africa

Aug 15, 2024

Lauren Keenan Anchor/Reporter

By Lauren Keenan (Anchor/Reporter), Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor)

This report was created with support from enhanced software.

Sweden has reported the first case of the more dangerous mpox variant, Clade I, outside of Africa. The announcement comes just one day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, a global public health emergency, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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The outbreak has now spread to neighboring countries as the Democratic Republic of Congo grapples with a severe mpox outbreak that has resulted in more than 14,000 cases and nearly 550 deaths since early 2024.

Sweden health officials said the infected person contracted the virus in Africa and has received appropriate care. They also emphasize that the risk to the general Swedish public remains low.

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This strain of mpox, Clade I, is associated with more severe outcomes and higher mortality rates compared to the previously circulating Clade II strain.

Symptoms of the new mpox variant include fever, chills, headache, exhaustion and swollen lymph nodes. Mpox also causes a characteristic rash affecting the face, hands and feet.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said mpox spreads either by a person coming into contact with an infected animal, close contact or sexual contact with a person infected with mpox, or through contact with contaminated materials.

Health officials said they believe this Clade I strain is more easily transmissible.

The WHO has released $1.5 million in contingency funds and is seeking an additional $13.5 million from donors to implement a response plan.

Tags: Africa, CDC, Health, Sweden, World Health Organization

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

SWEDEN HAS REPORTED THE FIRST CASE OF THE MORE DANGEROUS MPOX VARIANT, CLADE I, OUTSIDE OF AFRICA.

THIS – JUST ONE DAY AFTER THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARED MPOX – FORMERLY KNOWN AS MONKEYPOX – A GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY — FOLLOWING AN OUTBREAK IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO.

THE OUTBREAK HAS NOW SPREAD TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO IS GRAPPLING WITH A SEVERE MPOX OUTBREAK WHICH HAS RESULTED IN MORE THAN 14,000 CASES AND NEARLY 550 DEATHS SINCE EARLY 2024.

SWEDEN HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THE INFECTED PERSON CONTRACTED THE VIRUS IN AFRICA AND HAS RECEIVED APPROPRIATE CARE. THEY ALSO EMPHASIZE THAT THE RISK TO THE GENERAL SWEDISH PUBLIC REMAINS LOW.

THIS STRAIN OF MPOX CALLED “CLADE 1” IS ASSOCIATED WITH MORE SEVERE OUTCOMES AND HIGHER MORTALITY RATES COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUSLY CIRCULATING CLADE II STRAIN.

SYMPTOMS OF THE NEW MPOX VARIANT INCLUDE FEVER, CHILLS, HEADACHE, EXHAUSTION, SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES, AND A CHARACTERISTIC RASH AFFECTING THE FACE, HANDS, AND FEET.

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION SAYS MPOX SPREADS BY EITHER BY A PERSON COMING INTO CONTACT WITH AN INFECTED ANIMAL… OR CLOSE CONTACT OR SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A PERSON INFECTED WITH MPOX… OR THROUGH CONTACT WITH CONTAMINATED MATERIALS.

HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE THIS CLADE 1 STRAIN IS MORE EASILY TRANSMISSIBLE.

THE W-H-O HAS RELEASED $1.5 MILLION IN CONTINGENCY FUNDS AND IS SEEKING AN ADDITIONAL $13.5 MILLION FROM DONORS TO IMPLEMENT A RESPONSE PLAN.

FOR SAN, I’M LT…