Sweden confirms first case of mpox strain outside Africa

Swedish officials say they have registered the first case outside Africa of the more dangerous variant of mpox.

Sweden says it has confirmed a first case of mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact and is a more dangerous variant of the disease.

“We have now also during the afternoon had confirmation that we have one case in Sweden of the more grave type of mpox, the one called Clade I,” Health and Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed told a news conference on Thursday.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to other countries.

More to come…