Mpox patient in Sweden – first outside Africa

The first case of the disease mpox of the more severe variant has been confirmed in Sweden, announces Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed (KD) at a press conference on Thursday. It is the first case outside of Africa. It is of course something we take seriously, says Forssmed.

» Updated: September 07 2024

» Published: August 15 2024

Mpox patient in Sweden – first outside Africa
Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

The first case has been confirmed in Region Stockholm, according to the Public Health Agency. It is also the first to be diagnosed outside the African continent.

The infected person has been infected in an area in Africa where a large outbreak of variant clade 1 is ongoing.

The person in Sweden has received both care and guidelines according to current recommendations, says Olivia Wigzell, acting Director-General of the Public Health Agency.

No additional infection control measures

The fact that a patient with mpox is being cared for in the country does not increase the risk for the general population, according to Wigzell.

The case itself does not, in our assessment, require any additional infection control measures at present, but we are of course closely following the development, she says.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the outbreak of mpox in Africa as an international health emergency on Wednesday.

The variant of mpox that is now spreading in Africa, called clade 1, is believed to be both more contagious and deadly than clade 2, whose spread took off in 2022 and which is also present in Sweden.

More cases expected in Europe

A worrying factor is that clade 1 can be spread more easily through close contact, and not primarily through sexual contact like the previous variant.

Following the confirmed case in Sweden, WHO is also warning that more imported cases of mpox are likely to be confirmed in Europe soon – "in the coming days and weeks".

"The confirmation of mpox clade 1 in Sweden clearly reflects our interconnected world", writes the organization's European regional office in a statement.

Secured vaccine

Even before the summer, the government instructed the Public Health Agency to secure access to vaccines and medicines against mpox, according to the Minister of Health.

How worried are you?

I take this situation seriously, but there is no reason for widespread concern. The risk of transmission is low. We have good preparedness. Healthcare has good routines for this. It's a known disease. There is a vaccine. We have vaccines in stock, says Forssmed.

But we are following this because there are also uncertainties in this.

The Minister of Health further states that there is no travel warning to the virus-affected countries, but that the Public Health Agency is in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is ready to quickly introduce one if necessary.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Paulina Brandberg Steps Down as
3 MIN READ

Paulina Brandberg Steps Down as Minister to Prioritize Family Life

Virtual Reality Offers New Hope
5 MIN READ

Virtual Reality Offers New Hope for Phantom Pain Relief

Sweden Delays Joining Global Ocean
2 MIN READ

Sweden Delays Joining Global Ocean Protection Treaty

Sweden Allocates 71 Million Kronor
2 MIN READ

Sweden Allocates 71 Million Kronor to Support Helicopter Rescue Services

Social Democrats Propose State Investment
1 MIN READ

Social Democrats Propose State Investment Bank to Boost Growth

Green Party Proposes Emissions Trading
2 MIN READ

Green Party Proposes Emissions Trading to Replace Reduction Obligation

Västra Götaland Director Steps Down
1 MIN READ

Västra Götaland Director Steps Down After Journal System Setback

Sweden Unveils Largest Military Aid
2 MIN READ

Sweden Unveils Largest Military Aid Package to Ukraine

Sweden Boosts Workplace Inspections to
2 MIN READ

Sweden Boosts Workplace Inspections to Combat Rising Crime

Man Faces Charges for Online
1 MIN READ

Man Faces Charges for Online Child Sexual Offenses in Sweden

Man Sentenced to Psychiatric Care
3 MIN READ

Man Sentenced to Psychiatric Care for Ica Maxi Employee Murder

Sweden Prioritizes Journalist's Release After
2 MIN READ

Sweden Prioritizes Journalist's Release After Arrest in Turkey

Rise in Children Contacting Bris
1 MIN READ

Rise in Children Contacting Bris About Eating Disorders Concerns Experts

Sweden Sees Lowest Deadly Violence
2 MIN READ

Sweden Sees Lowest Deadly Violence Cases in a Decade

New Tool Empowers Parents to
1 MIN READ

New Tool Empowers Parents to Combat Online Grooming Risks

Elderly Man's Death in Ale
1 MIN READ

Elderly Man's Death in Ale Sparks Murder Investigation

Prince Carl Philip's Secret Alias
1 MIN READ

Prince Carl Philip's Secret Alias Exposed in Sportadmin Data Breach

Child Abuse Images Discovered on
1 MIN READ

Child Abuse Images Discovered on Computer at Swedish Repair Shop

Explosion Rocks Trollhättan Apartment Building,
1 MIN READ

Explosion Rocks Trollhättan Apartment Building, No Injuries Reported

Teenager Seriously Injured in Highway
1 MIN READ

Teenager Seriously Injured in Highway Collision with A-Tractor

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Moved
1 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Moved to High-Security Turkish Prison

SMHI Warns of High Grass
1 MIN READ

SMHI Warns of High Grass Fire Risk in Sweden's Snow-Free Regions

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested
1 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested in Turkey, Press Freedom at Risk

Man in His 30s Found
1 MIN READ

Man in His 30s Found Dead Outdoors in Norrköping; Murder Investigation Launched

Police Car and Fire Truck
1 MIN READ

Police Car and Fire Truck Crash on E4 Injures Officers

Sweden Prioritizes Journalist's Release After
2 MIN READ

Sweden Prioritizes Journalist's Release After Arrest in Turkey

Europol Looks to Sweden for
2 MIN READ

Europol Looks to Sweden for Tackling Digital Gang Crime

Woman Dies After Clothes Catch
1 MIN READ

Woman Dies After Clothes Catch Fire in Strömstad Residence

Spring Warmth to Sweep Sweden
1 MIN READ

Spring Warmth to Sweep Sweden with Temperatures Over 20 Degrees

Prehistoric Wasp Used Plant-Like Trap
3 MIN READ

Prehistoric Wasp Used Plant-Like Trap to Capture Prey, Study Reveals

Turkey Accuses Swedish Journalist of
3 MIN READ

Turkey Accuses Swedish Journalist of Terrorism and Anti-Turkish Reporting

Elderly Woman Airlifted After Clothes
1 MIN READ

Elderly Woman Airlifted After Clothes Catch Fire at Swedish Hospital

Swedes Struggle as Food Prices
4 MIN READ

Swedes Struggle as Food Prices Soar: 200 Kronor Gift Cards Run Out

Police Push for Expanded Surveillance
3 MIN READ

Police Push for Expanded Surveillance Powers on Minors in Sweden

Siblings in Sweden Marvel at
1 MIN READ

Siblings in Sweden Marvel at Rare Solar Eclipse with Welding Masks

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Expected
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Expected to Be Released Soon in Turkey

Police Struggle to Keep Up
3 MIN READ

Police Struggle to Keep Up as Online Radicalization Surges

Witness the Partial Solar Eclipse
3 MIN READ

Witness the Partial Solar Eclipse on March 29: How to Safely Watch

Body Discovered After Gislaved Apartment
1 MIN READ

Body Discovered After Gislaved Apartment Fire; Police Investigate

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Arrested in Turkey Without Charge Details