Sweden confirms first case of new mpox strain

One case of the new mpox strain has been confirmed in Sweden, the first to be detected outside Africa.

Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed made the announcement at a press conference on Thursday alongside Sweden's Public Health Agency.

Olivia Wigzell, the agency's acting director general, says the patient has the new clade 1 variant, which is more infectious and deadly. They had sought care in the Stockholm area on return from a stay in Africa.