2024-08-16 03:02:16
Stockholm: The new variant of the ampox virus that has been wreaking havoc in Africa has now reached outside the continent. Sweden’s public health agency has reported the first case of a new variant of ampox. The agency said the person got infected while staying in an area of Africa where the current outbreak of ampox clade-I is spreading. Just a day earlier, the World Health Organization had declared ampox a global health emergency. It has caused a lot of havoc in the Republic of Congo in Africa. At least 450 people died during the initial outbreak and the disease has spread to areas of central and eastern Africa. The BBC quoted Olivia Wigzel, the acting head of the Swedish Public Health Agency, as saying that the infected person had sought care in the Stockholm region. She clarified that his treatment in Sweden does not mean that there is any risk to the wider population. Sweden has previously identified 300 cases of ampox, but this is the first case related to clade I. The Swedish Health Agency said clade 1 is likely to be more contagious and associated with higher mortality. Clade I is usually spread through close contacts in the household and often through children, while milder infections are spread mainly through sexual contact.
What is Mpox?
Scientists first discovered ampox in 1958. It was first found in monkeys and then passed from them to humans. It was previously known as monkeypox. The virus spreads through close contact, such as sex, skin-to-skin contact and talking or breathing close to another person. It is similar to smallpox. Its symptoms include fever, body rash, headache, muscle pain and fatigue. The rash, which starts on the face, spreads to other parts of the body. The skin lesions can be fatal. Four out of 100 cases result in death.
Symptoms appear after a week
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control states that symptoms usually appear 6-13 days after infection. The main measures to prevent ampox are avoiding contact with infected animals and persons, along with hygiene and wearing protective clothing in high-risk areas. There is currently no specific treatment for ampox, but supportive care can help reduce its symptoms.