Mpox reaches Europe: Doctors sound the alarm
Another dangerous virus is approaching Europe, leading the WHO to declare a global emergency. The first mpox (clade I) case has been identified in Sweden. Should we be concerned?
The global health landscape has likely never been stable. In 2019, the world was overwhelmed by Covid-19, which claimed millions of lives and dramatically changed daily life. In the past, society has been ravaged by diseases such as plague, smallpox, cholera, typhoid, and syphilis. Today, the World Health Organisation is closely monitoring a new smallpox outbreak: mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), an animal-borne virus originating in Africa.
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Mpox has reached Europe
On 15 August 2024, the Swedish Minister of Health and Social Affairs officially announced the first serious case of mpox detected in Sweden. During a press conference, Jakob Forssmed stated, "This afternoon, we received confirmation of one case in Sweden of the more severe type of mpox, known as Clade I."
The Swedish patient is the first in Europe to be diagnosed with mpox after reportedly contracting the virus in Africa.
World Health Organisation issues mpox warning
On 14 August 2024, the World Health Organisation (WHO) held a press conference to address mpox concerns. The WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed that an emergency committee had convened to discuss the emerging virus. "The potential for further spread beyond Africa and beyond is very worrying," Ghebreyesus stated. In light of the situation, the WHO has declared a ‘public health emergency of global concern.’
One of the current mpox outbreaks is centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where cases have surged by 160% compared to last year. The disease predominantly affects children under 15, with a mortality rate of up to 85% in this age group. The new strain of the virus is estimated to have a mortality rate of 3-4%, but scientists warn that a mutated version could increase this rate to 10%. Although mpox is primarily sexually transmitted, virologists have found that the virus can also spread through close skin-to-skin contact or droplet transmission.
The symptoms of mpox often resemble those of influenza, including fever, muscle aches, headaches, and swollen lymph nodes. Additionally, patients develop purulent, pimple-like skin lesions that can appear on the feet, face, hands, or intimate areas.
