Health authorities have confirmed the presence of a dangerous new variant of MPox in Europe, initially identified in a patient seeking medical care in Stockholm, Sweden. This news comes in conjunction with a significant uptick in the stocks of vaccine manufacturers, particularly highlighted by the sharp increase in shares of Danish firm Bavarian Nordic, following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) announcement declaring the variant a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.”
The WHO’s alarm was sounded after outbreaks of MPox were reported in Congo and other African countries, claiming over 500 lives and affecting both adults and children. African health services report that the disease has been detected in 13 countries, with the majority of cases concentrated in Congo. Compared to the previous year, there has been a 160% increase in cases and a 19% rise in deaths.
Globally, there have been more than 14,000 reported cases, with approximately 70% occurring among children under 15 in Congo, who also constitute 85% of the fatalities. The new variant spreading from Congo appears to have a mortality rate of 3-4%, a stark increase from rates below 1% during the 2022 epidemic.
The Virus Spreads to Europe
The Swedish Public Health Agency reported the first European case of the MPox variant, believed to be from a migrant. The variant, identified as “Clade I,” marks the first diagnosis of its kind outside the African continent.
Vaccine Stocks React
Market response to the WHO’s actions was immediate. Bavarian Nordic, known for its MPox vaccines endorsed by WHO, saw a 10% jump in its stock prices after the announcement. This rise reflects growing investor confidence in pharmaceutical companies equipped to combat the outbreak.
The Challenge of the New MPox Form
Researchers warn that the newly identified form of MPox could be particularly lethal, with a potential fatality rate of up to 10%. The transmission is primarily through close contact, including sexual contact, a shift from previous outbreaks where symptoms were more visible on the chest, hands, and feet. The new variant tends to affect genital areas, complicating detection and potentially increasing the risk of unknowing transmission.
As the situation unfolds, health authorities worldwide are on high alert, monitoring the spread of this dangerous variant while communities brace for potential new waves of infections.