First European case of a more virulent Mpox strain in Stockholm

The Public Health Agency of Sweden has verified the presence of the Mpox Clade 1 variant, recognized for its elevated virulence, in a patient residing in Stockholm. This occurrence marks the initial instance beyond the African continent of this more virulent strain of Mpox, which is transmitted solely via direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected individual. Jakob Forssmed, the Swedish Minister for Health, has informed the media that the probability of widespread infection remains minimal. Furthermore, national healthcare institutions possess effective procedures and adequate vaccine supplies to mitigate potential viral propagation. Concurrently, the health situation in Africa is of notable concern, with a substantial proportion of cases concentrated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the Clade 1 variant exhibits a mortality rate of 3-4%, thereby increasing apprehensions regarding potential global dissemination of the virus. The WHO has designated the epidemic as a global health emergency, citing over 14,000 documented cases and in excess of 500 fatalities, predominantly affecting children under the age of 15.