A new mpox variant, identified as clade Ib, has emerged from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is now spreading to neighboring countries. Recent reports indicate that Sweden and Thailand have each confirmed cases linked to individuals who recently traveled from this region. This raises questions about the potential threat posed by this new variant.
Experts indicate that mpox clade Ib does not exhibit the same level of transmissibility as respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2, suggesting it is unlikely to trigger a pandemic similar to COVID-19. However, precautionary measures remain essential as public health officials continue to monitor the situation closely.
