Sweden's public health agency has reported the first case of a more dangerous variant of MPOX outside the African continent. The infected individual contracted the virus during a visit to an area in Africa currently experiencing a major MPOX Clade 1 outbreak. This announcement comes shortly after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the MPOX outbreak in parts of Africa as a public health emergency of international concern.

According to Olivia Wigzell, the acting head of the Swedish public health agency, the infected person sought medical care in the Stockholm area. Wigzell emphasized that receiving treatment in Sweden does not pose a risk to the broader population. She explained, "The affected person was infected during their stay in an area of Africa where there is a large outbreak of MPOX Clade 1."

MPOX, formerly known as monkeypox, is primarily transmitted through close contact such as sexual contact, skin-to-skin contact, and close proximity interactions. It manifests with flu-like symptoms and skin lesions and can be fatal, with a death rate of four in 100 cases. The virus is most prevalent in the tropical rainforests of West and Central Africa, with thousands of infections reported annually.

Currently, multiple MPOX outbreaks are occurring concurrently, fueled in part by the emergence of the more severe Clade 1b variant identified last year. The initial cases of Clade 1b were observed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, followed by confirmed cases in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and now, Sweden.

While Clade 2 of MPOX caused a public health emergency in 2022, it had relatively mild effects. Sweden has already identified around 300 cases of this milder variant. WHO/Europe is actively collaborating with Swedish health authorities to manage the first confirmed case of MPOX Clade 1b. The organization urges other countries to act swiftly and transparently, as more imported cases of Clade 1 are anticipated in the European region in the coming weeks.

The Swedish public health agency suggests that the more dangerous outbreak of Clade 1b may be associated with a higher incidence of severe illness and mortality. Dr. Jonas Albarnaz, a pox virus specialist at the Pirbright Institute, expresses concern that this first case outside Africa could indicate a larger scale of spread than previously known. Dr. Brian Ferguson, an Associate Professor of Immunology at the University of Cambridge, agrees that this development is troubling but not surprising given the severity and geographical spread of the outbreak in Africa.

The declaration by the WHO that MPOX is a global public health emergency aims to mobilize greater support for the most affected areas. While vaccines are available for those at highest risk or in close contact with an infected person, there are concerns regarding limited vaccine supply and funding to reach those who need it most. The mortality rate from the Clade 1b variant in Sweden is expected to be lower compared to affected areas in Africa, due to the high-quality healthcare system in Europe.

Dr. Ferguson predicts more cases of MPOX may occur in Europe and other parts of the world, as there are currently no mechanisms in place to prevent imported cases. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control states that symptoms typically appear 6-13 days after infection, including fever, headache, rashes or sores, and muscle aches. Most individuals experience mild to moderate symptoms and fully recover, but those with compromised immune systems are at higher risk.

Although the news of the first MPOX case outside Africa may cause alarm, it was an expected development. Previous disease outbreaks have shown that swift international action can effectively curb further spread. The UK Health Security Agency has assured healthcare professionals of their preparedness to identify and test for the virus. As MPOX, previously known as monkeypox, is now declared a global public health emergency, scientists are closely monitoring the high fatality rate and rapid spread of this new variant. Swedish prosecutors continue their investigation into the deaths, and updates on the situation are awaited.