What's happened
The WHO has declared a public health emergency as mpox cases spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Sweden and Pakistan. The first Clade 1b case outside Africa was confirmed in Sweden, prompting health authorities to prepare for more imported cases in Europe.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the New York Times, the confirmation of a Clade 1 case in Sweden is a significant development, highlighting the inevitability of further spread. Dr. Pamela Rendi-Wagner of the ECDC emphasized the need for heightened preparedness, stating, "We have to be concerned, even outside Africa." Meanwhile, the Guardian reported that the ECDC raised its risk assessment for mpox, reflecting the urgency of the situation. The WHO's declaration of a public health emergency underscores the gravity of the outbreak, as noted by SBS, which reported that over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been recorded in Africa this year alone.
How we got here
The mpox outbreak, previously known as monkeypox, has escalated in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it has caused significant fatalities. The recent spread to Europe marks a critical point in the outbreak's trajectory.
More on these topics
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Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.3 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area and 20% of its land area.
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Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country with a population exceeding 212.2 million. It is the 33rd-largest country by area, spanning 881,913 square kilometres.
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Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, Finland to the east, and is connected to Denmark in the southwest by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund Strait.
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The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is an independent agency of the European Union whose mission is to strengthen Europe's defences against infectious diseases. The Centre was established in 2004 and is located in Solna, Sweden.
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The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency's governing structure and principles, states its main objective as "the attainment