Sweden Confirms First Deadly Mpox Clade I Case

Sweden has reported its first case of the more deadly clade 1 mpox virus, marking the first instance of this strain outside Africa. The patient contracted the virus during a stay in an African region experiencing a significant outbreak. This comes just days after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the mpox outbreak a global health emergency. In Pakistan, a similar case was confirmed in a man who returned from Saudi Arabia. Experts fear that without early preparedness, the virus could lead to another pandemic similar to COVID-19. The mpox virus, spread through direct contact with infected animals or humans, has caused over 14,000 cases and more than 524 deaths this year, predominantly in the Democratic Republic of Congo.