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As new, highly contagious mutations are making this summers COVID surge significantly bigger than expected, the FDA approved updated COVID vaccines on Friday. But funding runs out this month for a federal program providing free vaccines to uninsured and underinsured Americans. John Yang speaks with PBS News digital health reporter Laura Santhanam for more.
Monkeypox virus particles under a microscope made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Photo VCG
Experts noted that children are more likely to be infected in this outbreak due to their relatively weaker immune systems.
Thailand's Department of Disease Control confirmed on Thursday that a 66-year-old European patient who had travelled to Thailand from Africa was infected with the Clade Ib, a new, potentially deadlier strain of mpox, the first in Asia, and the second outside of Africa, according to the BBC News.
Sweden was the first place outside of the African continent to confirm a case of Clade Ib a week ago.
The infected man had also recently travelled to an unnamed African country, according to Sweden's public health ministry, as reported by BBC.
According to a doctor named Zhao Lei from Wuhan Union Hospital of China, the transmission of the mpox virus in the past was primarily through direct contact or sexual contact.
However, the variant of the Clade Ib that has been identified in Thailand is more contagious and threatening and can be transmitted by infected animals and passed from human to human through close physical contact, human secretions (such as respiratory droplets), rash or contaminated items.
The groups most affected by this mpox outbreak are women and children under 15 years old, as reported by People's Daily, quoting WHO figures.
According to Lu Hongzhou, head of the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, many children in Africa were not vaccinated with smallpox vaccine, and the administration of the vaccine is effective.
Besides, children, especially those in Africa, tend to have relatively weaker immune systems, and their nutrition is often poor, Lu told the Global Times on Monday.
Given the crowded living conditions of many African children, if a family member is infected, the risk of spreading the virus through close family contacts is high since they are highly likely to share the same room, Lu said.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, declared the surge of mpox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), the second time for WHO to declare the mpox virus outbreak a PHEIC since 2022.
WHO launched the Global Mpox Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SRSP) that requires approximately $135 million to control the new mpox outbreak by implementing comprehensive surveillance and response strategies, as well as advancing research and equitable access to medical countermeasures against mpox, according to China Central Television.
As of July, a total of 99,176 laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox, including 208 deaths, have been reported to the United Nations health agency from 116 countries in all WHO regions.
WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris urged manufacturers to scale up mpox vaccine production, according to a report from AFP on August 17.
The WHO also called for countries with monkeypox vaccine stockpiles to donate them to countries with ongoing outbreaks, saccording to the AFP.
ITHACA, N.Y. Tompkins County Whole Health issued a health alert Monday warning residents of a rise in mpox cases, previously known as monkeypox, in New York State after 26 new cases were detected in New York City from July 7 to Aug. 3.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency regarding a new strain and subsequent outbreak of mpox Aug. 14. County and state health agencies have recorded zero cases of the new strain in Tompkins County or the Southern Tier Region as of Aug. 21, according to the alert.
Mpox is a virus that spreads through close physical contact, including direct skin-to-skin contact with the lesions, sores or rashes that form as a result of the infection. The virus also spreads through contact with wound dressings and fabrics, such as bedding and clothing, that have touched the sores. These rashes can present as bumps or blisters on or around the genitals or in other areas such as the hands, feet, chest or face.
Case trends demonstrate that mpox spreads most frequently among men who have sex with men, a group that includes people who identify as gay, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary, the alert said.
Symptoms of mpox infection include swollen lymph glands, flu-like fevers, headaches, muscle aches, chills and fatigue, which may occur, before or after the rash appears. Or, in some cases, not at all. It can take up to 21 days after exposure for someone to develop signs of the infection.
Mpox is contagious from the onset of symptoms or rash until the scabs have dried up and fallen off, and the skin is healing well underneath, the alert said.
Four mpox cases caused by the original strain of the virus have been recorded as confirmed or probable in Tompkins County by the New York State Department of Health, according to data via the departments website.None of the four cases were detected in the last week.
Whole Health recommended residents 18 or older receive the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine to best prevent risk, in the alert. The vaccine is available to anyone, regardless of insurance status, at the agencys Friday Immunization Clinics, located at 55 Brown Road in Ithaca. The clinic opens at 9:00 a.m., closes for a break from noon to 1:00 p.m., and then reopens until 4:00 p.m.
The vaccine prevents infection from both the new mpox strain causing the most recent outbreak and the original strain that prompted the Biden administration to declare a national health emergency in 2022, after leaders in major cities with high infection rates, including New York City and San Francisco, criticized a lack of federal support in their vaccination efforts.
The original strain of the mpox virus infected hundreds of New Yorkers in 2022, mostly residents in NYC. Gov. Kathy Hochul issued an Executive Order July 29, declaring the outbreak a state disaster to speed up vaccination efforts in the state.
A day earlier, the New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. Mary T. Bassett declared monkeypox an Imminent Threat to Public Health, which allowed local health departments to access additional state reimbursements in the case federal funding became unavailable.
The 26 most recent cases identified in NYC were caused by the original strain of mpox, the alert said. Since Jan. 1, 2024, 307 people in NYC have tested positive for mpox as of Aug. 8.
The new strain of mpox causes a rash that presents differently from ones caused by the original strain. The alert warned that internet searches for mpox rashes may look different. Any suspicious new rashes, bumps or blisters should be examined by a healthcare provider.
If an individual is concerned about their personal risk or has been experiencing symptoms, healthcare providers, including those at sexual health clinics and urgent care centers, can perform a risk-assessment and identify the appropriate steps to take. Often this includes swabbing a lesion to test for the virus. The individual must isolate while awaiting their test results.
The alert urged local healthcare providers who suspect mpox in patients to call Tompkins Whole Health to speak with a communicable disease nurse for additional guidance.
Treatments for those who meet criteria and are infected with mpox include antiviral medication, according to the alert. Anyone without a healthcare provider or insurance and is seeking a local provider is encouraged to dial 2-1-1 (1-877-211-8667).
Key facts
Mpox is an infectious disease that can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick.
Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). It is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of theOrthopoxvirusgenus in thePoxviridaefamily, which includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia and other viruses. There are two distinct clades of the virus: clade I (with subclades Ia and Ib) and clade II (with subclades IIa and IIb).
A global outbreak of clade IIb began in 2022 and continues to this day, including in some African countries. There are also growing outbreaks of clades Ia and Ib affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa. As of August 2024, clade Ib has also been detected beyond Africa.
The natural reservoir of the virus is unknown, but various small mammals such as squirrels and monkeys are susceptible.
Mpox spreads from person to person mainly through close contact with someone who has mpox, including members of a household. Close contact includes skin-to-skin (such as touching or sex) and mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact (such as kissing), and it can also include being face-to-face with someone who has mpox (such as talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate infectious respiratory particles).
People with multiple sexual partners are at higher risk of acquiring mpox.
People can also contract mpox from contaminated objects such as clothing or linen, through needle injuries in health care, or in community settings such as tattoo parlours.
During pregnancy or birth, the virus may be passed to the baby.Contracting mpox during pregnancy can be dangerous for the fetus or newborn infant and can lead to loss of the pregnancy, stillbirth, death of the newborn, or complications for the parent.
Animal-to-human transmission of mpox occurs from infected animals to humans from bites or scratches, or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping, cooking, playing with carcasses or eating animals.The animal reservoir of the monkeypox virus remains unknown and further studies are underway.
More research is needed on how mpox spreads during outbreaks in different settings and under different conditions.
Mpox causes signs and symptoms which usually begin within a week but can start 121 days after exposure. Symptoms typically last 24 weeks but may last longer in someone with a weakened immune system.
Common symptoms of mpox are:
For some people, the first symptom of mpox is a rash, while others may have fever, muscle aches or sore throat first.
The mpox rash often begins on the face and spreads over the body, extending to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It can also start on other parts of the body where contact was made, such as the genitals. It starts as a flat sore, which develops into a blister filled with liquid that may be itchy or painful. As the rash heals, the lesions dry up, crust over and fall off.
Some people may have one or a few skin lesions and others have hundreds or more. These can appear anywhere on the body including:
Some people also have painful swelling of their rectum (proctitis) or pain and difficulty when peeing (dysuria) or when swallowing.
People with mpox can pass the disease on to others until all sores have healed and a new layer of skin has formed. Some people can be infected without developing any symptoms. Although getting mpox from someone who is asymptomatic (not showing symptoms) has been reported, information is still limited on how common it is.
Children, pregnant people and people with weak immune systems, including people living with HIV that is not well controlled, are at higher risk for serious illness and death due to complications from mpox.
Some people with mpox become very sick. For example, the skin can become infected with bacteria, leading to abscesses or serious skin damage. Other complications include pneumonia; corneal infection with loss of vision; pain or difficulty swallowing; vomiting and diarrhoea causing dehydration or malnutrition; and infections of the blood (sepsis), brain (encephalitis), heart (myocarditis), rectum (proctitis), genital organs (balanitis) or urinary passages (urethritis). Mpox can be fatal in some cases.
Identifying mpox can be difficult because other infections and conditions can look similar. It is important to distinguish mpox from chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, herpes, syphilis, other sexually transmitted infections, and medication-associated allergies. Someone with mpox may also have another sexually transmitted infection at the same time, such as syphilis or herpes. Alternatively, a child with suspected mpox may also have chickenpox. For these reasons, testing is key for people to get care as early as possible and prevent severe illness and further spread.
The preferred laboratory test for mpox is detection of viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The best diagnostic specimens are taken directly from the rash skin, fluid or crusts collected by vigorous swabbing. In the absence of skin lesions, testing can be done using swabs or the throat or anus. Testing blood is not recommended. Antibody detection methods may not be useful as they do not distinguish between different orthopoxviruses.
HIV testing should be offered to adults with mpox, and children as appropriate. Diagnostic tests for other conditions should be considered where feasible, for example, varicella zoster virus (VZV), syphilis and herpes.
The goal of treating mpox is to take care of the rash, manage pain and prevent complications. Early and supportive care is important to help manage symptoms and avoid further problems.
Getting an mpox vaccine can help prevent infection (pre-exposure prophylaxis). It is recommended for people at high-risk of getting mpox, especially during an outbreak.
Groups that may be at high risk of mpox include:
The vaccine can also be administered after a person has been in contact with someone who has mpox (post-exposure prophylaxis). In these cases, the vaccine should be given less than 4 days after contact with someone who has mpox. The vaccine can be given for up to 14 days if the person has not developed symptoms.
Some antivirals have received emergency use authorization in some countries and are being evaluated in clinical trials. To date, there is no proven effective antiviral treatment for mpox. It is a priority to continue evaluation of therapeutics in robust clinical trials and to focus on optimizing supportive care for patients.
Individuals with HIV and mpox should continue taking their antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART should be initiated within 7 days of diagnosis of HIV.
Most people with mpox will recover within 24 weeks. Things to do to help the symptoms and prevent transmitting mpox to others:
Do
Do not
To prevent spread of mpox to others, people with mpox should isolate at home following guidance from their health care provider, or in hospital if needed, for the duration of the infectious period (from onset of symptoms until lesions have healed and scabs fall off). Covering lesions and wearing a well-fitting mask when in the presence of others may help prevent spread. Using condoms during sex will help reduce the risk of getting mpox but will not prevent spread from skin-to-skin or mouth-to-skin contact.If having sex, use condoms as a precaution for 12 weeks (about 3 months) after you have recovered.
Taking a break from sexual activity with new partners during periods of increased transmission can reduce the risk of getting mpox. Those who have had contact with someone with mpox should monitor for signs and symptoms for 21 days (3 weeks) and take precautions such as avoiding sexual activity during this period.
Health workers should follow infection prevention and control measures to protect themselves while caring for patients with mpox by wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) (i.e. gloves, gown, eye protection and respirator) and adhering to protocol for safely swabbing lesions for diagnostic testing and handling sharp objects such as needles.
The monkeypox virus was discovered in Denmark (1958) in monkeys kept for research. The first reported human case of mpox was a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1970). Following the eradication of smallpox in 1980 and the end of smallpox vaccination worldwide, mpox steadily emerged in central, east and west Africa. Since then, mpox has been reported sporadically in central and east Africa (clade I) and west Africa (clade II). In 2003, an outbreak in the United States of America was linked to imported wild animals (clade II). Since 2005, thousands of cases are reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo every year. In 2017, mpox re-emerged in Nigeria and continues to spread between people across the country and in travellers to other destinations.
Data on suspected and confirmed cases reported up to 2021 are availablehere and data on laboratory confirmed cases from 2022 until today are available here.
In May 2022, an outbreak of mpox appeared suddenly and rapidly spread across Europe, the Americas and then all six WHO regions. The global outbreak has affected primarily (but not only) gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and has spread person-to-person through sexual networks. More information on the global outbreak is availablehere, including information on community responses to control the outbreak.
In 2022, outbreaks of mpox due to clade I occurred in refugee camps in the Republic of the Sudan.
Since 2022, there has also been an upsurge in mpox cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In some areas of the country, a new offshoot of clade I, called clade Ib, has been spreading person-to-person. As of mid-2024, the clade has also been reported in other countries.
Over 120 countries have reported mpox between Jan 2022 Aug 2024, with over 100000 laboratory-confirmed cases reported and over 220 deaths among confirmed cases.
Stigma and discrimination for any disease are never acceptable. Stigma linked to mpox can undermine public health efforts or prolong a disease outbreak, as people may be more reluctant to come forward and seek care and treatment. For mpox, stigma, discrimination and racism have been particularly directed against communities initially most affected by the disease, namely men who have sex with men, trans people and gender diverse communities.
WHO works with Member States and partners to prevent and respond to outbreaks of mpox. This includes coordinating research on vaccines and treatments, strengthening country health systems, and working to facilitate equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and other tools.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) twice, the first time in May 2022 and the second time in August 2024.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) declared on August 14, 2024, that the recent upsurge in mpox cases constitutes a public health emergency of international concern," the organization's highest alert level. The next day, Sweden confirmed the first case of the new strain, mpox Clade 1, to be diagnosed outside Africa.
As of August 21, 2024, there have been more than 17,000 suspected cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) reported in Africa since the beginning of the yeara significant increase in the total suspected cases in 2023. The current consensus states that the rise in cases is due to the new mpox Clade 1 strain. Mpox Clade 2 was the milder variant behind 2022's global outbreak of less severe infections. More than 99.9% of those infected with mpox Clade 2 survive. Compared to Clade 2, Clade 1 typically causes a higher percentage of people with mpox to get severely sickit can also cause fatalitiesper the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); some outbreaks of Clade 1 were reported to have killed up to 10% of people who got sick.
The latest global health emergency declaration is the result of an IHR Emergency Committee decision, which met to review data presented by experts from WHO and affected countries. There are concerns that the disease could spread further across Africa and across continents, however, Mpox is not the new COVID,' a top WHO officialsaid on August 20. At the time of publication, no cases of Clade 1 mpox have been reported in the United States.
Following WHO's announcement, there have been instances of mpox misinformation and disinformation going viral on social media, as USA Today reported Tuesday. Platforms such as X, Meta, and TikTok have pages outlining their policies on combatting the spread of misinformation and misleading content, but the most reliable sources for information concerning mpox remain the official channels of public health organizations such as the WHO and the CDC.
As of August 21, 2024, there is no official call for general travelers to be vaccinated against mpox ahead of their trips.
However, the CDC issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice on August 7, 2024, regarding travel to DRC and neighboring countries. The notice advises travelers to practice enhanced precautions, which includes vaccinating with both doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine at least 28 days apart as soon as possible if you visit DRC or its neighboring countries (Burundi, Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda). While there is currently no official recommendation for how far in advance travelers should receive the second dose prior to their trip, the CDC notes that it takes two weeks after the second dose to be the most protected. Research on how long protection lasts is ongoing, with studies being conducted on data from the most recent outbreak. All of the CDC's advisories on travel to those countries can be found on their respective Travel Health Notice pages, and updates on the effectiveness of the JYNNEOS vaccine can be found on their mpox vaccination recommendations page.
Germany on Monday announced that it would donate 100,000 doses of mpox vaccine to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African nations in hopes of getting an outbreak of the disease under control.
The gift will all but wipe out the German military's reserve of roughly 118,000 doses.
Berlin will also lend financial support to its effort, providing funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as supporting partners in Africa through the Gavi Vaccine Alliance.
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said Berlin's aim is, "to support in solidarity the international efforts to contain mpox on the African continent."
Hebestreit, noting that these were immediate-term measures, added that Berlin would also work alongside the African Union (AU) to foster local vaccine production.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) this month declared a recent mpox outbreak in the DRC a global public health emergency when cases began showing up outside the country.
The WHO claims the disease "can be stopped" but notes that this will require a comprehensive and expensive global effort.
France last week announced that it would donate 100,000 doses and the US, too, will donate 50,000.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has been around for decades, yet a new, more virulent strain is thought to be behind its recent spread.
Deadly and communicable, the Clade 1b strain has killed more than 570 people this year. The disease has spread across the DRC, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. The first European fatality was registered in Sweden.
The mpox virus can spread from animals to humans but also between humans through close physical contact, most often through kissing or sexual contact.
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js/wd (AFP, Reuters)
Aug 26, 2024 13:50 2 min read
Amid the global health emergency declared due to the rapid spread of mpox, the disease formerly known as monkeypox, Brazil is moving to secure new doses of vaccines as soon as possible.
Speaking to news website G1 on Friday morning, Brazils health surveillance secretary Ethel Maciel said the country is hoping to receive vaccines soon, but that this depends on the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
I cant give an exact date for their arrival, as this no longer depends on the Health Ministry, but the most complex phase of obtaining special authorizations to import vaccines has already been completed, she said.
Brazil began its vaccination campaign against mpox in 2023, targeting people living with HIV/Aids, employees of labs exposed to the virus, and those who have come in contact with bodily fluids of patients with suspected infections.
The Health Ministry says that it may revise its immunization parameters once it gets its hands on the latest shipment of doses.
The mpox vaccine is manufactured by biotechnology company Bavarian Nordic, headquartered in Denmark. The immunizer is administered in two doses, with a recommended four weeks in between each jab.
The renewed fears about mpox are in relation to the spread of a new subvariety of the virus in Congo. There are two main types of mpox known to scientists: Clade I and Clade II the former is typically more severe and has a higher mortality rate. The current spread in Congo, however, has been put down to a new subtype: Clade Ib. Brazil has yet to identify any cases of this new subtype.
Ms. Maciel, however, says that Brazil can take nothing for granted. In this globalized world, every country knows it could have a case [of Clade Ib]. Its very important that we identify them quickly so that we can take the necessary isolation measures and stop the spread.
A German spokesperson disclosed that Germany is committed to donating 100,000 mpox vaccine doses to Africa, in addition to offering assistance to the countries most affected by the mpox outbreak.
The spokesperson, as seen in Reuters also revealed that the German government plans to provide the World Health Organization (WHO) with flexible funding options through various avenues to battle mpox, along with assistance for its African partners through the GAVI vaccine alliance.
Currently, Germany's army has stockpiled approximately 117,000 doses of Jynneos, which it acquired in 2022.
Last week, fellow European state, France, also committed to sending 100,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to regions most affected by the disease, as seen on Yahoo News. The Prime Minister of the country noted that France would donate the vaccines as it prepares to launch vaccine centers within its borders.
"These doses will be distributed through the European Union to regions where the virus is circulating widely," the prime minister said.
According to the African Union health agency, arrangements with the European Union and Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic, whose vaccine was authorized in 2019, will enable the shipment of some 200,000 vaccines throughout Africa.
On Friday last week, Austrias Health Minister Johannes Rauch, relayed that the country would be aiding Africa in its fight against the spread of the virus by donating mpox vaccines.
Austria is ready to donate Mpox vaccine to African countries. The recent Mpox outbreak is endangering the lives and health of tens of thousands of people there. I support @SKyriakidesEU's call for coordinated action by EU countries, he disclosed via his X account.
We will clarify the exact number of doses and the organizational details with the EU Commission immediately, he added.
Austria possesses 34,000 doses, which can be used for up to 170,000 vaccinations, as recommended by the National Vaccination Committee.
On the 14th of August, the World Health Organization declared the monkeypox (mpox) epidemic a worldwide emergency. This followed the disease's outbreak in several African countries, most notably in East Africa. In July, the governments of the East African Community's eight member states launched a campaign to educate their populations about the disease's risks.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, designated the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a rising number of African nations a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005).
As seen in the organizations official site, different clades of mpox have broken out in various countries in Africa, each with its own mode of transmission and danger levels.
With over 500 deaths at the time from the virus, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had also declared the virus a public health emergency and asked for assistance from neighboring countries to stop its spread.
Most of the mpox cases and deaths have been in Congo, with a new strain that is likely more transmissible spreading there.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) hopes to receive vaccine doses to address its mpox outbreak by next week, the Congolese health minister said on Monday.
More than 16,000 mpox cases have been confirmed in the country and roughly 570 deaths, with the virus spreading in some 17 African countries, the DRC's health minister Samuel Roger Kamba told reporters.
The mortality of the virus in the DRC is currently at around 3.4 per cent, he added.
"The vaccine is only part of the response. The first response is hygiene measures," Kamba said. "It is contact that spreads the disease," he added.
The outbreak in multiple African countries prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) last week to declare mpox a global health emergency.
The infectious disease, caused by the monkeypox virus, can cause a rash or lesions which can spread through close contact or sex.
Kamba said the DRC needed some 3.5 million vaccine doses against mpox to protect people, adding that once the country gets vaccines they will need to use them despite people's hesitancy.
Most cases and deaths globally have been in Congo.
Young people and children are the most impacted there, the minister added, pointing out that people who had the smallpox vaccine have protection against mpox, but since these vaccinations stopped in the 1980s, young people are still susceptible.
The international organisation Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance said it planned from 2026 to establish a "global stockpile" of mpox vaccines and in the interim to support the outbreak response in the DRC.
European health authorities raised the risk level for mpox last week, saying it is "highly likely" there will be more imported cases of mpox clade I, the strain that is spreading in Africa.
The variant of mpox that caused the 2022 outbreak, called clade II, continues to circulate in Europe.
"Two years ago, we controlled mpox in Europe thanks to the direct engagement with the most affected communities of men who have sex with men," Hans Kluge, WHO's regional director for Europe, said in a statement on Tuesday.
"We put in place robust surveillance; we thoroughly investigated new cases contacts; and we provided sound public health advice... Learning from our success, we urged governments and health authorities to sustain those measures to help eliminate mpox from Europe.
"But through a lack of commitment and a lack of resources we failed to go the last mile," Kluge said, adding that Europe should refocus on surveillance and diagnostics given the new emergency related to mpox clade I.
There is also a need for Europe "to act in solidarity" with the African region, he said, pointing out, however, that mpox is not the new COVID-19.
Sweden reported its first case of the new strain of mpox that is circulating in the DRC and is thought to be more transmissible.
The Swedish public health agency said, however, that the imported case "does not affect the risk to the general population".
