In 2022, the mpox virus gained worldwide attention, when a new subgroup of the virus spread rapidly. The World Health Organization WHO declared a state of emergency, but later assessed that the situation had calmed down.
Since then, Sweden has had around 300 cases of mpox, and even today cases are reported at regular intervals. But in Sweden, it is the milder virus group that spreads. Mpox consists of two groups; the deadlier clade I and the milder clade II, and these in turn have subgroups. It was clade IIb that took hold in 2022.
I Afrika har mpox existed for decades. However, in the past year, a subgroup of clade I has increased sharply, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since the turn of the year, over 13,700 cases of mpox have been registered in the country, of which 450 have died, writes BBC. The spread is so extensive that it has spread beyond the country’s borders and now occurs in countries such as Burundi, Kenya and Rwanda. The number of cases across the continent has increased by 160 percent in the past year, according to Reuters.
The state of emergency means that the region can get more resources and a mandate to take certain measures.
State epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén. Photo: Moa Källström
This virus group, which has significantly higher mortality than clade II, has not been reported outside of Africa. But state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén, who is also an infectious disease doctor and professor at Sahlgrenska Academy, believes that it is only a matter of time before individual cases are imported here.
– The important thing is that you have to be prepared for cases to come to Sweden and how to deal with it, he says.
It is then about being able to diagnose correctly, possibly isolate people, track infections and have access to the right medicine.
– I think that Sweden is well equipped if it were to come here, but then we will see how it develops. It is a spread of infection that is important to keep an eye on, says Magnus Gisslén.
On Wednesday, the WHO will meet to assess whether the virus also poses a global risk. So far, both American and European infection control authorities have assessed that the risk of a spread among the population is low.
Nevertheless, one should be vigilant, believes Magnus Gisslén.
– This is a significant mark, something you don’t do lightly. It indicates that it is really judged that resources are required to stop the spread in time. Mpox is a serious disease and should definitely be taken seriously
Facts.Mpox.
Mpox is a monkeypox virus divided into clade I and clade II types. It is first transmitted from animals to humans, and can then be spread via direct contact between humans.
Symptoms such as blisters or sores on the body, fever, headache and muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and problems with defecation are common. In severe cases, the infected may die.
Pregnant women, young children and people with a weakened immune system are risk groups.
Source: Public Health Agency
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