Europe on High Alert: Deadly Mpox Strain Detected in Sweden

Mpox Outbreak Worsens as Deadly Strain Spreads Beyond Africa.

Stockholm, Sweden – The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a grave warning about the increasing threat of mpox, particularly a more dangerous strain that has caused hundreds of deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). On Thursday, Sweden confirmed its first case of this deadly variant outside Africa, signaling a potential new phase in the global outbreak.

The WHO declared the mpox situation in Africa a public health emergency of international concern just a day earlier, highlighting the urgency of the crisis. The UN health agency is deeply concerned about the rapid rise in cases and fatalities within the DRC and its spread to neighboring countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The strain detected in Sweden is known as Clade 1b, a highly virulent form of the virus responsible for the surge in cases within the DRC since September 2023. The infected individual had recently traveled to the region experiencing the most severe outbreak.

While Sweden’s Public Health Agency emphasized that the risk to the general population remains low, the WHO’s European regional office warned of potential imported cases in the coming weeks. The organization stressed the importance of avoiding stigmatization and travel restrictions, emphasizing that such measures are ineffective in containing the virus.

The DRC has been the epicenter of the outbreak, reporting over 15,000 potential cases and 548 deaths since the beginning of the year. The government has implemented a vaccination strategy, enhanced border surveillance, and established response teams to combat the epidemic.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection transmitted through close contact with infected animals or humans. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and a distinctive rash. While the outbreak in 2022 primarily affected gay and bisexual men, the current surge is different, with a higher fatality rate and a wider impact on the population.

The global health community is racing to contain the outbreak. The United States is donating 50,000 vaccine doses to the DRC, and Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic is preparing to produce millions of vaccine doses.

As the world grapples with this evolving health crisis, experts warn that the situation requires a coordinated global response to prevent further spread and loss of life.