On August 16 (Digital Digest) – The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) elevated its level for monkey pox risk on Friday, following the confirmation of the first case of a new strain outside Africa, detected in Sweden. The EU’s health agency head warned of potential additional cases of the new monkeypox strain in Europe in the coming weeks, although the likelihood of widespread transmission remains low.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared monkeypox a global public health emergency on Wednesday, the highest level of alert, after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to neighboring countries. The WHO is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss strategies for equitable global access to testing, treatments, and vaccines for the virus, according to a senior official.

Monkeypox, a viral infection known for causing pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms, is typically mild but can be fatal. Two strains are currently circulating in Congo: the endemic clade I and a new variant, clade Ib.

On Friday, the ECDC upgraded its risk assessment for monkeypox in the EU from “low” to “moderate” for sporadic cases and urged member countries to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly among travelers from affected regions. The agency also revised the overall risk to the public, raising it from “very low” to “low.”

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