Sweden confirms first case of monkeypox outside Africa

On August 15, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the first case of monkeypox in Sweden, marking the first time the virus has spread outside Africa since the outbreak.

A doctor examines a boy infected with monkeypox at a treatment center in Munigi, Democratic Republic of Congo, July 19, 2024. Photo: Reuters

According to WHO, the patient in Sweden was infected with a strain of the virus belonging to the Clade Ib branch, a new variant of the Clade I monkeypox virus strain, which is endemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This Clade Ib strain is more likely to spread, especially through close contact. The patient is currently being treated and disease control measures have been implemented.

The WHO warned that the appearance of this case in Sweden could be a sign that the disease may have spread and could potentially spread to Europe in the coming days and weeks. “The confirmation of this case in Sweden highlights our global interconnectedness… which could potentially lead to more cases of this disease in the European Region in the coming days and weeks,” the WHO said.

The current outbreak of monkeypox is believed to have originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Clade I virus has mutated and spread to neighboring countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. Since the beginning of 2023, more than 17,000 suspected cases and more than 500 deaths, mostly children, have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The WHO declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on August 14, calling on the international community to act quickly to stop the spread of the virus. The organization is also studying the transmission routes of the disease, especially in countries that have not yet received the vaccine, and is calling on countries with vaccine stocks to assist affected countries.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/thuy-dien-xac-nhan-truong-hop-dau-tien-mac-dau-mua-khi-ben-ngoai-chau-phi-d222577.html