The first case outside Africa of the more dangerous Clade 1 variant of Mpox has been diagnosed in Sweden, the country's Public Health Agency said on Thursday.
A person seeking medical care in Stockholm, Sweden's capital, was "diagnosed with Mpox caused by the Clade I variant", the agency said, the first such case in the country.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global public health emergency on Wednesday, after the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring countries.
The WHO emergency committee that endorsed issuing the alarm expressed that it was concerned Mpox could "spread beyond Africa to other regions of the world", chairman Dimie Ogoina said.
"Its detection in neighbouring countries that had not previously reported Mpox and the potential for further spread within Africa and beyond is very worrying,” WHO director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
“It's clear that a co-ordinated international response is essential to stop these outbreaks and save lives."
The WHO said more imported Clade 1 Mpox cases were likely to be confirmed in Europe soon, after Sweden's announcement.
"The confirmation of Mpox Clade 1 in Sweden is a clear reflection of the interconnectedness of our world ... there are likely to be further imported cases of Clade 1 in the European region over the coming days and weeks," the WHO's European regional office said in a statement.
Samuel-Roger Kamba, the Democratic Republic of Congo's Health Minister, said the country had recorded 15,664 potential cases and 548 deaths "since the beginning of the year", affecting all of its 26 provinces.
Mr Kamba said the government had put in place a "national strategic plan for vaccination against Mpox", as well as improving surveillance of the disease at borders and checkpoints.
He said that at government level, working groups have been set up to boost contact tracing and help to gather resources to "maintain control of this epidemic".
It is the second time the WHO issued an emergency on Mpox in two years, after about 100,000 cases spread in non-endemic countries in 2022.
The current outbreak is seen as potentially more of a threat because of a more transmissible and deadlier Mpox Clade 1, and its new mutated variant called Clade 1b.
The WHO's decision followed the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's declaration of a continental health emergency on Tuesday.
The declaration of a public health emergency of international concern is the highest level of alarm the WHO can issue, and it frees up finances and resources for attempts to contain the virus.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Stage result
1. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Fenix 4:42:34
2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Ineos Grenadiers
4. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) BikeExchange-Jayco
5. Emils Liepins (Lat) Trek-Segafredo
6. Arnaud Demare (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
7. Max Kanter (Ger) Movistar Team
8. Olav Kooij (Ned) Jumbo-Visma
9. Tom Devriendt (Bel) Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux
10. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Team Emirate
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
MATCH INFO
World Cup 2022 qualifier
UAE v Indonesia, Thursday, 8pm
Venue: Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham v Ajax, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
