Swedish health officials confirmed on Thursday the country's first case of the more contagious mpox variant, initially detected in eastern Congo. This news comes a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) labeled the outbreaks in Africa a global emergency. The patient, who recently sought medical treatment in Stockholm, contracted the virus during a stay in an African region experiencing significant mpox outbreaks, per the Swedish public health agency.
State epidemiologist Magnus Gisslen stated the infected individual has been treated and provided with guidelines, stressing that the general public's risk remains "very low." However, officials noted that occasional imported cases might continue to occur. Earlier this year, scientists discovered a new, more lethal form of mpox in a Congolese mining town, prompting concerns about its potential spread. Mpox primarily spreads through close personal contact, including sexual interactions.
According to WHO, over 14,000 cases and 524 fatalities have been reported across more than twelve African countries this year, already surpassing last year's figures. The vast majority—all but 4%—of these cases and deaths, occurred in Congo. Experts believe that Sweden and other affluent nations possess the necessary resources to curtail potential new outbreaks within their borders. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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