New mpox variant detected in Denmark

A newly identified variant of mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has been confirmed in Denmark, according to the country’s Statens Serum Institut (SSI).

The variant, classified as “clade 1b,” was first detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2024. Danish health authorities now expect further cases but emphasize that the overall risk of transmission remains very low.

“With international spread, we anticipate seeing cases of clade 1b in Denmark,” said Uffe Vest Schneider, a senior physician at SSI, in a statement. “However, the overall risk of infection in Denmark remains extremely low, and we have strong preparedness measures in place to quickly contain any outbreaks.”

Norway’s Folkehelseinstituttet (FHI) confirmed the new variant has not yet been detected in Norway. Marte Petrikke Grenersen, a senior physician at FHI, described mpox as generally mild for most people, with symptoms including fever, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, and a rash that progresses to blisters and lesions. While most recover within days, severe cases can occur in individuals with weakened immune systems or children, though fatality rates remain below 0.1% in African countries and are likely even lower in Europe.

Grenersen added that Norway is well-prepared to handle potential outbreaks, with established healthcare protocols for managing the disease.

Mpox first emerged in Norway in May 2022, linked to a broader international spread that began in Europe, particularly in the UK and Spain. The virus, long endemic in parts of West and Central Africa, saw its first major global transmission outside the region in 2022. According to FHI, men who have sex with men are at higher risk due to the virus’s spread through close physical contact.