One day after WHO alarm: Sweden reports first monkeypox case in Europe

According to government information, Sweden has the first confirmed Mpox case of the new variant Clade I outside Africa. Swedish Social Minister Jakob Forssmed announced this at a press conference.

The case was reportedly identified in the Stockholm region. “This is of course something we take seriously,” said Forssmed. The infected person had previously been in Africa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared the highest alert level due to several Mpox outbreaks in Africa and the new, potentially dangerous variant. According to experts, clade I is likely to be more contagious than previous variants and cause a more severe infection.

According to Olivia Wigzell of the Swedish Public Health Agency, there is no danger that the case will have an impact on the wider population. “In our opinion, the case itself does not currently require any further infection control measures, but we are of course following developments closely,” said Wigzell at the press conference with the Minister of Social Affairs.

Mpox used to be called monkeypox because it was first discovered by chance in monkeys. The virus is related to the classic smallpox virus. It causes mainly a skin rash, but also fever and muscle pain. There are two vaccines, but not nearly enough doses in Africa.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), clade I infections had previously been observed exclusively in Central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).