One confirmed case of new mpox variant in Europe

Sweden’s Public Health Agency on Thursday confirmed one case of the clade I mpox variant in an individual who had returned to the country from a visit in Africa. It is the first case of that particular variant of mpox to be diagnosed outside of Africa. The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency over mpox after the new strain of the virus began appearing in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other African countries. Mpox has claimed more than 500 lives this year and infected nearly 16,000 people, WHO said.

What does this mean? The new clade I virus variant has officially appeared in Europe, where it has not appeared before. Sweden has confirmed more than 300 cases of another mpox variant, the clade IIb variant, before, its health agency said. The virus largely spreads through sexual contact, according to the European Union. But it can also spread through contact with virus-contaminated materials.

Dig deeper: Read Juliana Chan Erickson’s report in Relations about how the COVID-19 pandemic did not slow the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States.