Sweden: Mpox outbreak reported in Stockholm
During April 2024, an unusually high number of cases of mpox have been reported to the Public Health Authority. There are about ten cases of the disease in the Stockholm area, all infected in Sweden.
The Public Health Authority is working together with the regional infection control unit and the health and medical services to investigate the cause of the increase. It is mainly men who have sex with men (MSM) who have been affected.
“As before, we recommend that people with a higher risk of infection get vaccinated against mpox. Vaccination is especially important now that we are seeing an increased spread of infection”, says Erik Sturegård, deputy state epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency.
The Public Health Agency recommends vaccination for the following groups:
Men who have sex with men with an increased risk of mpox and trans people who have sex with men, with an increased risk of mpox.
People who have sex with men for compensation.
Vaccination is also recommended for people who are 17 years of age or younger and belong to one of the groups above.
“Healthcare should pay attention to mpox and people at high risk should take appropriate measures to reduce the risk of infection. The vaccine significantly reduces both the risk of becoming infected and the risk of serious disease, but vaccination does not provide complete protection, and it is important to know that a certain risk of infection remains even after you have been vaccinated”, says state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén.
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Anyone who may have been exposed to the risk of mpox should immediately contact the healthcare system for advice, possible sampling and vaccination.
Typical symptoms of mpox are blisters or sores that can be anywhere on the body, but most often they are on the hands and feet, face, in and around the mouth, genitals and anus. The time from being infected to becoming ill (the incubation period) is usually 6–13 days.
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Mpox is primarily transmitted through close physical contact with a person who is infected. Physical contact, such as sexual contact or other close skin contact with an infectious person who has blisters, poses a particularly high risk. Avoiding close skin contact, especially new sexual contact, with symptoms of mpox reduces the risk of infecting others.
The disease can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, but usually heals on its own within two to four weeks. It happens that people with mpox need to be hospitalized. In rare cases, the disease can lead to complications, and in exceptional cases cause death.