Another case of monkey pox has been confirmed in Sweden.
– Not unexpected, says Sara Byfors, head of department at the Swedish Public Health Agency.
The person who has been confirmed infected is living in Västra Götaland, is said to be well and is not being cared for in hospital.
This is the second case of monkey pox found in Sweden. The first case was confirmed on Thursday last week.
– It is not unexpected that there are a few additional cases based on what it looks like in Europe.
About the spread of infection in Sweden, Byfors says:
– We do not think it is a widespread infection, but it does occur.
General dangerous disease
On Friday, the government decided to classify monkey pox as a general dangerous disease. This means that infection control measures such as infection tracing and rules of conduct can be used to limit the spread.
TT: How should one think about the risk of infection?
– The risk is very low that you become infected with this. The assessment is that close contact is required for the infection to be transmitted. So you do not have to worry, says Sara Byfors.
The Swedish Public Health Agency monitors developments in both Sweden and Europe.
– There are 118 confirmed cases within the EU, most of them in Portugal and Spain. There are just over 200 cases in the world, says Byfors, with reference to the European Infection Control Agency.
Looking over vaccines
The current outbreak shows what appears to be a new route of transmission, according to Byfors. The recommendations regarding the disease will therefore be updated in connection with the addition of new information.
TT: Can it be relevant with a vaccine against monkey pox in Sweden?
– We are also looking at that issue and examining which vaccines may be relevant for monkey pox.
– We are reviewing it, but it is not something we see at the moment.