First case of deadly new virus strain recorded outside Africa

The first case of Clade 1 monkeypox outside Africa has been recorded in Sweden, health authorities in Stockholm have announced. They insisted there was no risk to the general public, however.

Thursday’s announcement comes just a day after the World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern over the resurgence of the virus.

“The affected person has also been infected during a stay in an area of Africa where there is a large outbreak of mpox Clade 1,” Olivia Wigzell, acting head of the Swedish public health agency, told reporters.

“Mpox” is the WHO-designated term for the virus, changed in November 2022 to “avoid stigma” allegedly associated with monkeys and Africa.