New outbreak of monkeypox in Stockholm

Published 30 April 2024 at 15.26

Domestic. An ongoing outbreak of monkeypox is being investigated by the health care and the regional infection control unit in Stockholm with the support of the Public Health Authority. Homosexual men and others at increased risk of infection are still recommended to vaccinate themselves against the disease.

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During April there are unusually many cases of monkeypox – as of politically correct reasons now go by the name “mpox” – reported to the Public Health Authority.

It concerns about ten cases of the disease in the Stockholm area, all infected in Sweden.

FHM works together with the regional the infection control unit and the health and medical services to investigate the reason for the increase. It is mainly actively gay men 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, in a statement.

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.

– Health care 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 illness, 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.

Anyone who may have been exposed to the risk of monkeypox should immediately contact the health service for advice, possible sampling and vaccination.

Typical symptoms of monkeypox are blisters or sores that can be anywhere on the body, but most often they are on hands and feet, face, in and around the mouth, genitals and anus. The time from being infected to becoming ill (incubation period) is usually 6–13 days.

Monkeypox is mainly 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 recent sexual contact, with symptoms of monkeypox 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 monkeypox need to be hospitalized. In rare cases, the disease can lead to complications, and in exceptional cases cause death.