The first confirmed monkeypox mutation in Sweden..."Proposed for possible international spread"

One day after the WHO's public health emergency declaration

A case of mutant MPOX (monkeypox virus) was reported in Sweden, northern Europe, on the 15th (local time). This is the first sign that it has spread outside the continent a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international public health emergency (PHEIC) against MPO in line with the spread of the continent, Reuters said.

Swedish health authorities held a press conference on the same day and said, "A patient who was being treated in Stockholm was infected with 1b of the M.Fox virus and is currently receiving treatment." The health authorities added, "Sweden is ready to safely diagnose, isolate, and treat M.Fox patients."

Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University (public health law) in the United States, said, "The outbreak of cases in Europe suggests that the international spread of Empox could proceed rapidly. Sweden's case shows the possibility of dozens of undetected infections in Europe." Brian Ferguson, a professor at the University of Cambridge in England, said, "Considering the serious spread in Africa, there is a high possibility that more cases of infection will appear," and pointed out that there is currently no way to prevent the spread of Empox. The World Health Organization held an emergency committee meeting on the 14th and declared an "international public health emergency" as the Empox epidemic in the Republic of Great Britain spread to the African continent. This is the highest alert level that the World Health Organization can issue. The World Health Organization declared a state of emergency for Empox once in 2022, but lifted it in May last year as the spread slowed down.