Sweden has confirmed its first case of the deadly clade I mpox strain, making it the first country outside Africa to report this more contagious variant of the virus. The announcement was made on Thursday, a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency.
According to Sweden’s Public Health Agency, the infected individual sought medical care in Stockholm and was diagnosed with mpox caused by the clade I variant. This marks a significant development, as clade I has so far been reported only in African countries.
WHO Declares Global Public Health Emergency
On Wednesday, the WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years. The decision followed an outbreak of the clade I variant in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has rapidly spread to neighboring countries and beyond.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, expressed concern about the virus’s spread, particularly the emergence of the new clade I variant. “The rapid spread of this new clade in eastern DRC and its appearance in other countries is alarming,” Dr. Tedros said during a news conference. “It’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”
Global Concern and Call for Action
The WHO’s declaration of a global public health emergency underscores the need for heightened vigilance and international collaboration. The UN health agency made this decision based on the advice of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee, composed of independent experts.
With Sweden now reporting a case of the clade I variant, the spread of mpox beyond the African continent raises new concerns about global health security. The situation calls for urgent measures to contain the virus and prevent further spread, especially in regions where healthcare infrastructure may be less equipped to handle such outbreaks.