Norway prepared to handle mpox: health minister

OSLO, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) — Norway’s health system is well-prepared to manage any potential mpox outbreak, following a recent case reported in neighboring Sweden, the Ministry of Health announced in a statement on Monday.
“The risk of mpox infection in the Norwegian population is low, according to the Institute of Public Health,” Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre said in the statement.
“However, isolated cases may still occur in Norway, as we have seen in Sweden. Our country is equipped with robust health preparedness, a well-prepared healthcare system, and ample access to vaccines to handle mpox infections effectively,” he added.
The ministry emphasized its ongoing collaboration with the World Health Organization, the European Union and Norway’s own health agencies, as well as regional health organizations, to monitor and respond to any developments.
Last Thursday, Swedish health authorities confirmed that they have identified the first case of the more infectious Clade I variant of mpox in the country. The Public Health Agency of Sweden said this is also the first confirmed case of this variant outside Africa.
The Swedish health agency noted that, unlike the previous variant which mainly spread through sexual contact, Clade I is now spreading primarily through household contact and frequently infects children. Though it causes a similar illness to the Clade IIb variant that spread internationally in 2022, Clade I is considered capable of causing a more severe condition and higher mortality. ■