Sweden confirms first case of more contagious mpox variant outside Africa after WHO declares global emergency

Sweden confirms first case of more contagious mpox variant outside Africa after WHO declares global emergency

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The mutated mpox strain has spread to at least six African countries, but few vaccines have reached Africa. Photo: Getty

Sweden reported on Thursday that it had confirmed its first case of the “more severe” variant mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact.

Earlier on Thursday, the World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to other countries.