This is what we know about the mpox disease

The latest outbreak of mpox in Africa has been classified as an international health emergency by the World Health Organization WHO, which sees risks of further spread. This is what we know about the disease.

» Updated: September 19 2024

» Published: August 15 2024

This is what we know about the mpox disease
Photo: AP

Share this article

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 found in Sweden.

Following alarm reports of the disease spreading in several African countries, the WHO decided at an emergency meeting on Wednesday to classify the outbreak as an international health emergency.

The risk of further spread beyond Africa is very worrying, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom after the meeting.

Declaring an international health emergency allows the WHO to take acute measures.

The outbreak of clade 1 was first detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but has spread to neighboring countries Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, and Uganda.

May have caused miscarriages

According to the WHO, more than 14,000 cases of the disease and 524 deaths have been reported so far this year. However, the dark figure is believed to be large.

A worrying factor is that clade 1 can be spread through close contact, not just through sexual contact like the previous variant. The virus can be transmitted from mother to child and is suspected to have caused a large number of miscarriages and stillbirths.

Mpox often causes rashes, sores, and blisters on the torso, arms, legs, hands, and feet, as well as on the face. Symptoms have often been mild but can be severe in people in risk groups.

There is a vaccine against the disease. There are also medications that have some effect against the infection and can be used in severe cases.

One case in Sweden

The day after the WHO declared an international health emergency, the first case in Sweden was confirmed in Region Stockholm, announced the Public Health Agency. It is also the first case diagnosed outside the African continent.

The person affected, who is being treated in Sweden, had visited an area in Africa where there is a large outbreak of clade 1.

Was called monkeypox

The viral disease can be transmitted between animals and humans. It was discovered in monkeys, but it is likely that different rodents in central and western African rainforests have been reservoirs for the virus.

In the spring of 2022, an unusually large number of cases were detected in several countries. The transmission of the virus then occurred mainly through sexual contact between men who have sex with men.

All cases of infection must be reported to the infection control doctor in the region and to the Public Health Agency.

Mpox was previously called monkeypox. In 2022, the WHO decided to change the name of the disease to the abbreviation mpox to have a more neutral name to avoid stigmatizing those infected.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Experts Warn Against Unnecessary Menopause Tests and Treatments
3 MIN READ

Experts Warn Against Unnecessary Menopause Tests and Treatments

Mohamsson Criticizes Busch's Call to Move Swedish Embassy to Jerusalem
1 MIN READ

Mohamsson Criticizes Busch's Call to Move Swedish Embassy to Jerusalem

Woman Falls from Balcony in Helsingborg; Man Arrested for Attempted Murder
1 MIN READ

Woman Falls from Balcony in Helsingborg; Man Arrested for Attempted Murder

Explosion Reported at Järfälla Apartment Building
1 MIN READ

Explosion Reported at Järfälla Apartment Building

Explosion Reported at Row House in Södertälje, Police Investigate
1 MIN READ

Explosion Reported at Row House in Södertälje, Police Investigate

Woman Found Dead in Helsingborg Apartment Man Arrested
1 MIN READ

Woman Found Dead in Helsingborg Apartment Man Arrested

Russian Signal Disruptions Threaten Air Safety in Europe
1 MIN READ

Russian Signal Disruptions Threaten Air Safety in Europe

Gothenburg Data Breach Exposes Personal Info of 165,000 Residents
1 MIN READ

Gothenburg Data Breach Exposes Personal Info of 165,000 Residents

Uppsala Doctor's Sentence Increased for Rapes and Sexual Assaults
1 MIN READ

Uppsala Doctor's Sentence Increased for Rapes and Sexual Assaults

Man Seriously Injured in Alby Subway Shooting Near Stockholm
1 MIN READ

Man Seriously Injured in Alby Subway Shooting Near Stockholm

Heavy Rain Hits Jönköping Prompting Rescue Service Alerts
1 MIN READ

Heavy Rain Hits Jönköping Prompting Rescue Service Alerts

Small Plane Crash in Lake Limmaren Kills Two Experienced Pilots
2 MIN READ

Small Plane Crash in Lake Limmaren Kills Two Experienced Pilots

SOS Alarm Alerts Public to Fake SMS About Important Messages
1 MIN READ

SOS Alarm Alerts Public to Fake SMS About Important Messages

Expert: Men Predominate in Cases of Compulsive Sexual Behavior
2 MIN READ

Expert: Men Predominate in Cases of Compulsive Sexual Behavior

Norwegian Suspect in Gothenburg Double Murder Escapes at High Speed
2 MIN READ

Norwegian Suspect in Gothenburg Double Murder Escapes at High Speed

Kristersson's Trust Damaged Despite Landerholm's Acquittal
2 MIN READ

Kristersson's Trust Damaged Despite Landerholm's Acquittal

Paraglider Crashes into Mountain in Åre, Rescued by Helicopter
1 MIN READ

Paraglider Crashes into Mountain in Åre, Rescued by Helicopter

Hells Angels Leader Arrested for Summer Murder in Karlstad
1 MIN READ

Hells Angels Leader Arrested for Summer Murder in Karlstad

Hultqvist Calls for Law Review After Landerholm Acquittal
1 MIN READ

Hultqvist Calls for Law Review After Landerholm Acquittal

Defense Expert Surprised by Acquittal of Former Adviser
2 MIN READ

Defense Expert Surprised by Acquittal of Former Adviser