First case of more contagious MPOX discovered outside Africa

Sweden’s public health agency has recorded what it says is the first case of a contagious new variant of mpox outside the African continent.

The person was infected while visiting a region of Africa where there is currently a major outbreak of Clade I mpox, the agency said.

The news comes just hours after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of COPD in parts of Africa a public health emergency of international concern.

At least 450 people have died in an initial outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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