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Sweden reports first case of deadly mpox strain outside Africa

Sweden on Thursday announced the first case outside Africa of the more dangerous variant of mpox, which the WHO has declared a global public health emergency.

Published: 15 August 2024 21:39 CEST
Sweden reports first case of deadly mpox strain outside Africa
Sweden's state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén, Olivia Wigzell, the acting Director General of the Swedish Public Health Agency and Sweden's social minister Jakob Forssmed announce the first case of the new mpox variant. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

The country’s public health agency confirmed to AFP that it was the same strain of the virus that has surged in the Democratic Republic of Congo since September 2023, known as the Clade 1b subclade.

“A person who sought care” in Stockholm “has been diagnosed with mpox caused by the clade I variant. It is the first case caused by clade I to be diagnosed outside the African continent,” the agency said in a statement.

The person was infected during a visit to “the part of Africa where there is a major outbreak of mpox clade I,” state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslen said in the statement.

The patient “has received care,” Gisslen said. The agency added that Sweden “has a preparedness to diagnose, isolate and treat people with mpox safely.”

“The fact that a patient with mpox is treated in the country does not affect the risk to the general population, a risk that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) currently considers very low,” it said.

The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 548 people since the start of the year.

WHO declared the outbreak in the DRC and neighbouring countries a public health emergency of international concern on Wednesday.

Formerly called monkeypox, the virus was first discovered in humans in 1970 in what is now the DRC.

It is an infectious disease caused by a virus transmitted to humans by infected animals but can also be passed from human to human through close physical contact.

The disease causes fever, muscular aches and large boil-like skin lesions.

Member comments

  1. oh look, a WHO health scare, how unusual, quick let’s link up with big Pharma and line our pockets with a jab again.

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HEALTH

Should you take vitamin D supplements if you live in Sweden?

Shorter days make it much harder to get enough vitamin D during the colder months of the year in Sweden. Is it worth taking supplements during the winter?

Published: 13 September 2024 10:03 CEST
Should you take vitamin D supplements if you live in Sweden?

Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for overall health and well-being, and most people are aware that it can be absorbed via sunlight. 

Sunlight isn’t in abundance in Sweden during the winter. A lot of places across the country only get a few hours a day, typically during working hours, when the majority of the population are inside at work or school.

This makes it much harder to get enough vitamin D. A deficiency can lead to several health problems in the long run, like muscle weakness and cramps, fatigue and depression. In extreme cases, it can cause rickets in children (known as engelska sjukan, English illness, in Swedish).

Where else can I get vitamin D from?

Aside from sunlight, vitamin D is primarily found in fatty fish, roe and fish liver, as well as red meat, egg yolks and liver. Around 100 grams of salmon or herring provides enough vitamin D to cover your daily intake. 

Vitamin D is also added to several foods in Sweden, such as milk, yoghurt, butter, as well as their non-dairy alternatives. The nutritional label on food packaging will state how much has been added. 

If you are unable to incorporate these foods into your diet, or if you spend a lot of time inside or with your skin covered, then you will probably need to turn to supplements. 

How much should I take a day?

According to the Swedish Food Agency, children and most adults should consume at least 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day, rising to 20 micrograms per day for over-70s as well as people who rarely have sun on their skin.

Most people get enough vitamin D through their food, but the agency does recommend supplements for some groups.

For the following groups, it recommends taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D supplements per day (you may also see supplements measured in IE, in which case 10 micrograms is equivalent to 400 IE).

  • Children under two 
  • People who don’t eat fish 
  • People who don’t eat food with added vitamin D (such as milk, butter, and non-dairy alternatives)
  • People who eat neither fish nor food with added vitamin D
  • People with little or no exposure to the sun
  • People who are pregnant or breastfeeding 

The following groups should take 20 micrograms (800IE) a day:

  • Over-75s
  • People with little or no exposure to the sun, who also don’t eat fish or food with added vitamin D.

If you spend time outdoors in the sun during the summer months, you don’t need to take supplements between May and August.

There are also upper limits to the amount of vitamin D you should take, so don’t be tempted to take extra if you’ve missed a few days.

Children up to the age of 11 should take no more than 50 micrograms per day, while anyone over the age of 11 should take no more than 100 micrograms per day.

Where can I buy it?

You should be able to get hold of vitamin D supplements at health stores, pharmacies and larger supermarkets. Search for D-vitamintillskott if buying online. Parents of children under two should be given liquid vitamin D drops for their child for free at their child health centre.

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