Europe has its first case of infection with a new strain of monkeypox

The first case of infection with a new strain of monkeypox virus outside Africa has been confirmed by the World Health Organization.

The first case of infection occurred in Sweden. This is reported by Reuters.

The patient was infected with the strain of the genetic branch of clade Ib during a stay in Africa.

This variant of the virus is associated with the current outbreak of the disease on the continent. The infected person is currently undergoing treatment.

Health officials in the United States and Canada told the agency that they have not yet recorded any cases of infection.

The case of the Swedish traveler is worrisome, but not surprising given the severity and spread of the outbreak in Africa.

African countries are reportedly experiencing an outbreak of a new strain of monkeypox, with mortality rates among children as high as 10%.

News of the first case in Europe comes after the WHO declared the monkeypox outbreak in Africa a global emergency.

A total of about 17,000 cases of suspected monkeypox infection have been reported in African countries.

Of these cases of infection, there have been 517 deaths. This is 2.5 times more than in the same period last year.