Sweden Reports First Case of New Mpox Variant

Sweden has confirmed its first case of a more contagious variant of mpox, a virus that spreads through close contact.

The infected person caught the virus in a part of Africa where there is a large outbreak, according to Olivia Wigzell from the Swedish Public Health Agency.

This news comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared mpox a global health emergency again. The outbreak started in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has spread to other countries.

The patient in Sweden is receiving care and following health guidelines. China has announced it will start screening travelers and goods for mpox to prevent its spread.

This new variant of mpox, which can be more deadly, was first seen in Congo. Mpox spreads mainly through close physical contact, including sexual contact.

So far this year, there have been over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths from mpox in Africa, mostly in the DRC. The WHO’s warning suggests the outbreak could spread further, with possible cases already undetected in Europe.