Another global emergency involving mpox is unfolding, with cases spreading from Africa now springing up across the globe, an echo of the viral crisis two years ago. But this time around, things are different, with a mutated strain of the mpox virus that seems to be more contagious — and more deadly, threatening to become a pandemic on par with COVID-19.

The crisis first attracted attention earlier this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where most cases are currently concentrated. But it soon began to spill over into at least 13 neighboring countries. In late June, health authorities first rang alarm bells over a new strain of mpox, clade Ib, spreading through the North and South Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Scientists believe it mutated from the lineage called clade II that impacted the U.S. and other Western countries in 2022.

Now the virus is spreading beyond Africa. On Thursday, Sweden confirmed its first case of the new strain of mpox, the first known infection of the strain outside of Africa. It was followed shortly by a case reported in Pakistan. European officials have said other cases are “highly likely” to be found. So far, this year there have been 14,719 suspected and 2,822 confirmed mpox cases, with 99 percent reported in the African continent. That tally includes 517 deaths, giving this mpox clade an estimated case fatality rate of 3%.

The news came only a day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, but this time concerning a seemingly more rapidly spreading strain.

“Spread to other countries and areas is also likely and remains very concerning,” the WHO told Salon via email. “There remains a risk of wider outbreaks, and WHO is working with........

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