The first cases of the clade 1b mpox strain outside Africa have been reported in Sweden, Pakistan, and other non-African countries, marking the first detection of the virus beyond the continent.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the rapid spread of the more virulent clade 1b mpox strain a global health emergency, with a higher mortality rate of up to 10%, particularly affecting vulnerable populations like children.
A major mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and 13 other African nations is ongoing.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has raised the risk level for mpox in the European Union and European Economic Area after the case in Sweden.
Pakistan has confirmed its first case of mpox and has adopted safety measures, while the WHO has stated that there is no need to close borders due to the outbreak.
Sources: Al Jazeera, New Scientist, France 24, Times of India, Yahoo, iNews, Jagran, Vatican News, Tempo, News Ghana, News of Bahrain, Express, Newstalk, Gadgets 360, Evrim Ağacı, MENA FN, Shannonside, Independent, Brussels Times, WION, Hubli Express
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
