Mpox: Sweden confirms first case of ‘more grave’ variant outside Africa

Clade I case comes after World Health Organization declares a global public health emergency

• What is mpox and why has it been declared a global health emergency?

Sweden confirmed its first case of the more contagious variant of mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact, marking the first time it has been found outside Africa.

The person was infected while in a part of Africa where there was a large outbreak of the disease, Olivia Wigzell, director-general at the Swedish public health agency, told a press conference.