The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning about the possible appearance of mpox outbreaks in Europafollowing the report of a case in Sweden of a variant of the virus previously limited to AfricaThe new strain, known as clade 1, It represents a greater threat due to its higher level of danger and contagion.
According to the WHO statement, it is anticipated that more imported cases of clade 1 could be detected in Europe in the coming days and weeks. This virus, Also known as “monkeypox”, it was recently classified as a public health emergency of international concern due to the significant increase in cases in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and other African countries.
Since January 2022, 38,465 cases have been recorded in 16 African countries, resulting in 1,456 deaths. In 2024, cases increased by 160% compared to the previous year, according to data from Africa CDCIn the DRC, where 15,664 potential cases have been reported since the beginning of the year, at least 548 people have died, according to the minister of Health, Samuel-Roger Kamba.
The first case detected outside Africa, announced by the Public Health Agency of Sweden, involves a person who contracted the disease during a stay in an unspecified African region with outbreaks of clade 1. Olivia Wigzell, The agency’s acting director clarified that this case does not represent an immediate risk to the Swedish population.
WHO stressed the importance of avoiding stigma towards travelers and affected regions, stressing that the cooperation and data sharing are essential to controlling the spread of the virus.
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2024-08-20 17:54:33