The most dangerous variant has crossed Africa’s border

The discovery of the most deadly monkeypox variant, clade 1, in Sweden marks the first time the strain has appeared outside of Africa.

On August 15, Sweden reported an alarming case of the deadly variant Virus vaccinethe first such phenomenon found outside Africa. The variant belongs to the evolutionary branch 1 subtype, which is considered more deadly and contagious. According to the Swedish Public Health Agency, the infected person contracted the virus during his stay in Africa, more precisely in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where a large-scale epidemic has occurred.

Growing threats in the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has faced a worrying resurgence of the MPOX clade 1b variant since September 2023. The country, with 100 million inhabitants, has recorded more than 15,000 potential cases since the beginning of the year, including 548 deaths. All provinces are affected and the spread of the disease is worrying the international community, especially when the variant begins to spread outside Africa.

Faced with this situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) has activated the highest level of health alert. This public health emergency of international concern is intended to draw global attention to the infection and encourage governments to take preventive measures. For example, the United States has donated 50,000 doses of approved vaccines to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, highlighting the importance of vaccination in the fight against the epidemic.

Prevention and education

The spread of mpox is mainly through direct contact or contaminated objects, so education and prevention are crucial to stop its spread. Experts stressed the importance of raising awareness among the population and the rapid intervention of medical institutions and humanitarian NGOs to contain the virus. In Sweden, health authorities provided reassurance, confirming that infected patients have been isolated and treated and do not pose a risk to the general public.