Sweden announced on Thursday that it has confirmed its first case of mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact. Earlier in the day, the World Health Organization (WHO) 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 since spread to other countries.
“We have now received confirmation this afternoon of a case in Sweden involving the more severe form of mpox, known as Clade I,” stated Health and Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed during a press conference.
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What Is MPox And How To Prevent It?
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus. Symptoms typically include a skin rash or mucosal lesions lasting 2-4 weeks, along with fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue.
According to the WHO, mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with an infected person, contaminated materials, or infected animals. Preventative measures include avoiding contact with those infected and vaccination for those at risk.
The monkeypox virus was first identified in 1958 in monkeys used for research in Denmark, and the first human case was reported in 1970 in a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Since the eradication of smallpox in 1980 and the cessation of global smallpox vaccination, mpox has steadily reemerged in central, eastern, and western Africa.
A global outbreak of mpox occurred in 2022-2023. The natural reservoir of the virus remains unknown, but small mammals like squirrels and monkeys are considered susceptible.
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