ECDC Urges Preparedness Amid New Mpox Strain Emergence In Europe

News Desk

Stockholm: The European Union (EU) health agency on Friday warned its member states to brace for more cases of a deadly strain of mpox, following Sweden’s announcement of the first case outside Africa.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recommended that EU/ European Economic Area (EEA) nations maintain high levels of preparedness, including awareness-raising initiatives to enable rapid detection and response to potential outbreaks.

In its risk assessment, the ECDC stated that while the overall risk for the general population in the EU and European Economic Area (EEA)—covering 30 countries—remains ‘low’, public health authorities should be prepared.

“Due to the close links between Europe and Africa, we must be prepared for more imported Clade I cases,” ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner said.

The ECDC updated its risk assessment, reiterating that the overall risk to the general EU/EEA population remains low, although the likelihood of infection is higher for travellers visiting affected areas and having close contact with impacted communities.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the rapid spread of the new, more dangerous mpox strain, Clade 1b, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern—the highest alert the UN agency can issue.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been hit hard by the virus, with the government reporting 548 deaths so far this year. In response to the outbreak in the DRC, the U.S. Department of Health announced on Wednesday it would donate 50,000 doses of the mpox vaccine to the country.

Sweden and Pakistan both reported their first cases of the Clade 1b strain this week, with the WHO warning of further imported cases in Europe.

The mumps virus is primarily transmitted to humans by animals but can also spread from person to person through close physical contact. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and large skin lesions resembling boils. The Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic, which manufactures the mpox vaccine, is also seeking approval from European authorities to extend its use to children aged 12 to 17.