ECDC Raises Mpox Risk Level

Reuters (8/16, Satija, Rigby) reported, “The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on Friday raised its risk level for mpox, a day after global health officials confirmed the first infection with a new strain of the virus outside Africa, in Sweden.” The organization “raised its risk level assessment for mpox to ‘moderate’ from ‘low’ for sporadic cases appearing in the EU, and asked countries to maintain high levels of awareness among travellers visiting from affected areas.” ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner “said there will be more imported cases of the new mpox strain in Europe in the coming weeks, though the risk of sustained transmission remains low.”