Mpox variant hits Sweden, Pakistan: WHO declares monkeypox virus a global health emergency

Monkeypox is back in news! A dangerous and contagious mpox variant is reportedly spreading outside the African continent, raising concern across the world. The World Health Organization declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern – the second time in two years – after the mpox outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo. As per news reports, Sweden has also confirmed its first case of mpox clade I, making it the first non-African nation with this variant of the mpox disease. The person was infected during a stay in Africa, according to the Public Health Agency of Sweden. As per news agency Reuters, even Pakistan has detected three cases of Mpox virus, previously known as monkeypox virus.

Mpox in Sweden

A person had sought care in Region Stockholm in Sweden when doctors found that the individual had mpox caused by the virus variant clade I, making it the first case outside the African continent. “It concerns a person who has been infected during a stay in a part of Africa where the spread of mpox clade I is ongoing,” as per the Public Health Agency of Sweden.

“The infected person has received treatment,” says Magnus Gisslén, state epidemiologist at the Public Health Authority. Even though the person is treated for mpox in the country, it does not affect the risk to the population at large. The European Infection Control Authority European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) currently assesses the risk as very low.

Mpox, a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, has two different forms – clade I and clade II. “A case of clade II had previously occurred in Sweden, but clade I is likely linked to higher mortality,” according to the agency. Clade II was mainly spread via sexual contacts, but clade I is now spread through close contacts within the household.

Mpox declared a global public health emergency

The Sweden case came just a day after WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. “The emergence of a new clade of mpox, its rapid spread in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying,” Dr Ghebreyesus said while making the announcement. “On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”

The announcement was made following the advice of an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of independent experts, who considered the upsurge of mpox to be a global concern. According to them, there are chances of mpox spreading further across countries in Africa and possibly outside the continent.

History of Mpox

Mpox, which was first found in humans in 1970 in the DRC, is considered endemic to nations in central and west Africa. Two years ago, the outbreak of mpox was declared a global health concern when it spread quickly via sexual contact. That global health emergency was declared over in May 2023 after a decline was noticed in mpox cases. But soon, reported cases shot up significantly. So far this year, the number of mpox cases reported has exceeded last year’s total. There are now more than 15, 600 cases and over 530 have died due to mpox, as per the WHO.

What is mpox?

Mpox is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, which is a species of the Orthopoxvirus, and has symptoms similar to smallpox, but less severe. Mpox is a disease transmitted from animals to humans, with evidence of the virus infection found in animals including squirrels, different species of monkeys, and Gambian pouched rats. It can also spread from humans to humans, and be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, and skin lesions, according to the World Health Organization.

The common symptoms of mpox are:

• Skin rash which can last 2 to 4 weeks
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Back pain
• Low energy
• Swollen lymph nodes.

The WHO recommends people at high risk to get vaccinated to prevent mpox. The list includes:

• People working in a hospital who are at risk of exposure
• Men who have sex with other men
• People with more than one sex partner
• Sex workers

When it comes to treating this viral illness, you have to focus on taking care of the skin rash, and managing pain to prevent complications. The WHO recommends to wash hands frequently with water and soap or use hand sanitizer, especially before or after touching the rashes, keep skin dry and don’t cover it, and stay in your own room if possible. People infected with mpox usually recover within 2 to 4 weeks.