- The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC)raised its risk alert level for mpox on Friday, and asked countries to maintain high levels of awareness among travellers visiting from affected areas.

The agency said it now sees a "moderate" risk of mpox, compared to "low" earlier, for the broader population and travellers. It added that the likelihood of sustained transmission in Europe remained very low, provided the imported cases are diagnosed quickly and control measures implemented.

The current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo began with the spread of an endemic strain, known as clade I. But a new variant, clade Ib, appears to spread more easily through routine close contact, including sexual contact.

"Due to the close links between Europe and Africa, we must be prepared for more imported clade I cases," said the agency's director, Pamela Rendi Wagner.

Earlier this week, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the disease in Africa a public health emergency after clade Ib cases began spreading to neighbouring countries of Congo. On Thursday, a case of the new offshoot was confirmed in Sweden, the first sign of its spread outside Africa.

The European CDC recommended that public health authorities plan and prepare for quick detection of any clade I cases that may reach Europe. It predicts the impact from this strain of the virus will be low in Europe if proper surveillance and control measures are implemented.

Mpox is a viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions, and while usually mild, it can be fatal in rare cases.

  - Reuters