2024-08-15 18:32:45
Mpox particles, captured by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Associated Press
Following the announcement by the World Health Organization (WHO) “Public health emergency of international concern” Due to the spread of MPOX, Sweden reported the first case on its territory, located in the Stockholm region. “This afternoon we confirmed that Sweden has the most serious case of MPOX contamination”Minister of Health and Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed announced at a press conference on Thursday 15 August.
“Affected individuals became infected during their stay in an area of Africa where there is a severe epidemic of MPOX subtype clade 1”Olivia Wigzell, interim head of Sweden’s public health agency, detailed the situation. The latter confirmed to AFP that this is an mpox variant of the clade subtype 1bSince September 2023, the virus has re-emerged in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Ms Wigzel assured that people infected in Sweden received care and advice in accordance with current regulations, something her agency said in a statement. “Just because one person is being treated for measles in the country does not mean that others are at risk”. This is the first case of infection with the variant outside Africa.
“Identification of the Swedish MPOX isoform clade 1 clearly reflects the interconnectedness of our world (…). The European region is likely to record further imported cases of type 1 clade in the coming days and weeks.”the World Health Organization stressed in a press release.
More dangerous strains
Mpox is a viral disease formerly known as monkeypox, French for “monkeypox.” It was first discovered in humans in 1970 in the former Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). Before the global pandemic breaks out in 2022 in the form of “Clade 2”.
But other strains also exist, including clade 1b. The latter, which is more contagious and dangerous, was discovered in September 2023 and is causing serious damage to several African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It causes a systemic rash, whereas previous strains (clades 1 and 2) were characterized by rashes and localized lesions in the mouth, face, or genitals.
It was the variant that prompted the World Health Organization to trigger the highest level of health alert on Wednesday. But, as its director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recalled, “We are dealing with multiple outbreaks in different branches in different countries, with different modes of transmission and different levels of risk.”
READ ALSO | Article reserved for our subscribers Why the World Health Organization has classified the MPO epidemic in Africa as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern”
Add to your selection
Reuse this content
1723747654
#Sweden #reports #case #infection #warns #Europe #risk #imported #cases
