Health
Sweden reports first case of highly-infectious mpox virus outside Africa amid outbreak there
Swedish health authorities announced the first case of the highly-infectious mpox just a day after the World Health Organization declared a global emergency for the outbreaks in Africa.
In this case, a person was infected during a stay in the part of Africa where there is a major outbreak of (the more infectious mpox formerly known as monkeypox),” the Public Health Agency of Sweden announced on Thursday.
Magnus Gisslen, a state epidemiologist with the Swedish health agency, said the person had been treated and given “rules of conduct.”
“The fact that a patient with mpox is treated in the country does not affect the risk to the general population,” Swedish officials said.
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Swedish state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén speaks during a press conference Thursday regarding mpox, in Stockholm. (Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency via AP)
The announcement of an infected resident in the Scandinavian country comes just a day after WHO declared the mpox outbreak a global emergency.
The U.N. health agency said there have been more than 14,000 cases and 524 deaths this year, which already exceed last year’s figures.
So far, more than 96% of all cases and deaths are in Congo.
Mpox on a child in Nigeria. (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control via WHO)
What is mpox?
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was first identified by scientists in 1958 when there were outbreaks of a “pox-like” disease in monkeys. Until recently, most human cases were seen in people in Central and West Africa who had close contact with infected animals.
In 2022, the virus was confirmed to spread via sex for the first time and triggered outbreaks in more than 70 countries that had not previously reported mpox.
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Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms like fever, chills and body aches. People with more serious cases can develop lesions on the face, hands, chest and genitals.
Earlier this year, scientists identified a highly contagious form of mpox, which can kill up to 10% of people.
Mpox is transmittable and highly-contagious. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
Scientists in Europe have maintained that although mpox is transmittable and highly-contagious, advanced healthcare in Sweden and other rich countries can stop the transmission before it becomes an epidemic.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Five people in downtown Lincoln, New Hampshire, have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.
The New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) announced the news in an Aug. 12 press release.
It is likely that the five affected individuals were exposed to contaminated water droplets from a cooling tower behind the RiverWalk Resort, the release stated, as tests confirmed the presence of Legionella bacteria in the water.
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“Anybody who has visited the area near the contaminated cooling tower should monitor themselves for symptoms,” said Dr. Benjamin Chan, New Hampshire state epidemiologist, in the release.
“People who develop fever or other symptoms of pneumonia within 14 days after spending time in this area should talk to their health care provider about testing for Legionella infection.”
People who have certain symptoms — as noted in this article — should seek medical attention immediately, the CDC advises. (iStock)
Those who are within a half-mile of the cooling tower could be at risk of exposure, the DHHS warned.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the DHHS for comment.
What is Legionnaires’ disease?
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria.
The bacteria is usually found in lakes, streams and other freshwater environments.
However, it can grow and spread indoors via shower heads, sink faucets, hot tubs, water features/fountains, plumbing systems and other water systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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When people swallow or breathe in droplets of water that contain Legionella, they can potentially become ill with Legionnaires’ disease.
Although human transmission is possible in rare cases, the disease is not typically spread from person to person, per the CDC.
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. (iStock)
“Individuals at highest risk include smokers and those with coexisting pulmonary disease,” Dr. Nathan Goodyear, medical director of Brio-Medical in Arizona, told Fox News Digital.
“Other risk factors,” he said, “include advancing age, cardiovascular disease, obesity and compromised immune systems.”
Symptoms of the infection
Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease usually show up between two and 14 days after exposure.
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The signs are similar to other types of pneumonia, and include the following:
- Cough
- Fever
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle aches and headaches
Some patients may also experience nausea, diarrhea and confusion, the CDC noted.
Individuals at highest risk for Legionnaires’ disease include smokers and those with coexisting pulmonary disease, a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“The nature of the symptoms is not necessarily what differentiate Legionella from other causes, but history of exposure from ‘human-made reservoirs,’ though this may be hard to discern early on in infection and/or in an outbreak,” said Goodyear.
“Cancer is also a comorbidity of Legionnaires’ disease,” the doctor added.
Those who have any of these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately, the CDC advises.
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease is made via chest X-ray, urine test and lab analysis of a phlegm sample.
Most people with the disease will recover with a course of antibiotics.
In some patients, however, serious illness can lead to lung failure or death, per the CDC.
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Around 10% of people who contract Legionnaires’ disease will die from those complications — and the mortality risk rises to 25% for those who get Legionnaires’ while staying in a health care facility, according to the CDC.
“Treatment needs to be early and aggressive,” Goodyear told Fox News Digital. “Legionella infection is an intracellular infection that requires antibiotic treatment.”
A diagnosis of Legionnaires’ disease is made via chest X-ray, urine test and lab analysis of a phlegm sample. (iStock)
Antibiotics that are appropriate for Legionella infection include Levofloxacin and Azithromycin.
“Therapy can be prescribed orally in healthy individuals … but intravenous antibiotics often prove to be the initial option for treatment secondary to the pathogenicity of the disease,” Goodyear said.
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Currently, there are no vaccines for the disease.
The best strategy to prevent infection is to reduce the growth and spread of the Legionella bacteria.
The CDC recommends that building owners and managers use a water management program to reduce the risk.
The bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease can grow and spread indoors via indoor water systems, the CDC says. (iStock)
To prevent serious illness from Legionnaires’, Goodyear recommends that all smokers kick the habit, and also emphasizes the need to “aggressively support” chronic pulmonary disease.
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“Advancing age is a given in life, and immune dysfunction correlates with advancing age,” added Good year.
“Increasing immune support (vitamin D3, Vitamin C, Zinc) is required to counter the immune dysfunction associated with advancing age.”
Obesity is another foundational risk factor for all chronic inflammatory diseases, Goodyear noted.
Pop singer Lance Bass recently shared on social media that he has type 1.5 diabetes, also known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).
The former NSYNC member was initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few years ago, he wrote in an Instagram post.
“But when I was first diagnosed, I had a difficult time getting my glucose levels under control even though I made adjustments to my diet, my medications and my workout routine,” he said. “Things just weren’t adding up.”
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Bass then revealed what he referred to as a “plot twist.”
“I recently discovered that I was misdiagnosed and I actually have type 1.5, or latent autoimmune diabetes of adults [LADA].”
Pop singer Lance Bass recently shared on social media that he has type 1.5 diabetes, also known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). (Greg Doherty/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to Bass for comment.
What is type 1.5 diabetes?
Type 1.5 diabetes is considered an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks cells in the pancreas — called beta cells — that secrete insulin, a hormone that helps to regulate glucose levels in the body, according to experts.
The condition is typically diagnosed in individuals age 30 and older and progressively worsens over time.
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“Like type 1 diabetes (T1DM), LADA is an autoimmune disease, but unlike T1DM, the decline in beta-cell function occurs much more slowly,” Dr. Silvana Obici, chief of the Division of Endocrinology at Stony Brook Medicine on Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital in an email.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) classifies LADA as a subset of Type 1 — “because they are all characterized by autoimmunity and only differ in the rate of beta cell destruction,” said Obici, who has not treated Bass.
Type 1.5 diabetes is considered an autoimmune disease. The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks cells in the pancreas — called beta cells — that secrete insulin, a hormone that helps to regulate glucose levels in the body. (iStock)
The symptoms of type 1.5 diabetes are similar to those of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but there are also some differences.
“Although type 1 is often associated with increased thirst, increased urination, increased hunger and weight loss, these symptoms are less common in both LADA and type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Kevin Peterson, vice president of primary care for the ADA, who also has not treated Bass, told Fox News Digital.
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“Both of these conditions can have a slow onset that is characterized by fatigue, urinary tract infections, blurred vision and mild problems that can sometimes be ignored.”
Unlike type 2 diabetes, LADA is associated with a progressive loss of insulin that can’t be controlled by lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, and may not respond to medicines used to treat type 2 diabetes, Peterson added.
Chance of misdiagnosis
Some 10% of adults with type 1.5 diabetes are initially misdiagnosed as having type 2 diabetes, studies show.
With LADA, “the presentation is often slow, making it difficult to distinguish between the two conditions, especially early in the diagnosis,” said Peterson.
Unlike type 2 diabetes, LADA is associated with a progressive loss of insulin that can’t be controlled by lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. (iStock)
Blood tests are available that can identify the type of diabetes, he noted.
Dr. David Lam, an associate professor in the division of endocrinology, diabetes and bone diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, did not comment on Bass’ case, but agreed that type 1.5 diabetes can be misdiagnosed.
Over 1 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year, with approximately 10% of those having type 1.5.
“Testing for the autoantibodies is not standardized for all patients newly diagnosed with diabetes — it typically occurs because the clinician has a degree of suspicion of the diagnosis,” Lam told Fox News Digital.
“This is typically based on elements of the person’s clinical history, such as onset of diabetes at a younger age, lower body mass index, or a family or personal history of other autoimmune conditions,” he added.
Treatment and intervention
Although LADA shares some of the same symptoms as type 1 and type 2 diabetes, experts noted that its treatment can be different.
“Early in the course of type 1.5 diabetes, the pancreas may still make enough insulin, so there may be only mild glucose abnormalities,” Lam told Fox News Digital.
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During this period, treatments traditionally used for type 2 diabetes may work, he noted — “but as the condition progresses, and the pancreas’ ability to produce insulin significantly decreases, injected insulin therapy becomes necessary to control blood glucose levels.”
Treatment is also challenging because type 1.5 diabetes progresses at different rates for each individual and can be difficult to predict, Lam noted.
All types of diabetes must be managed with dietary intervention, experts say. (iStock)
Specific medications for the disease will depend on the severity of the beta cells’ deficiency, Obici said.
“If the amount of insulin produced by the beta cells is very low, these individuals will require insulin, as with type 1 diabetes,” he told Fox News Digital.
“On the other hand, if the beta cells produce some or a substantial amount of insulin, LADA can be treated with a combination of insulin and other medications used for type 2 diabetes, such as metformin, GLP-1 receptor agonists and DPPIV inhibitors.”
All types of diabetes must be managed with dietary intervention, according to Obici.
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“In T1DM and LADA, dietary intervention is focused on helping to keep glycemia under control and to avoid hypoglycemia,” he said.
“In T2DM, diet and lifestyle modification is focused not only on glycemic control, but also on promoting weight loss.”
For those who are told they have type 2 diabetes and are young, not overweight and not responding to pills, a doctor said he recommends asking about being tested for type 1.5. (iStock)
Dr. Brian Burtch, an endocrinologist at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio, who was not involved in Bass’ care, told Fox News Digital that his practice sees at least one case of type 1.5 diabetes each month.
For those who are told they have type 2 diabetes and are young, not overweight and not responding to pills, Burtch typically recommends they ask about being tested for type 1.5.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
“As a physician, it is important to always consider this diagnosis in diabetes patients,” he advised.
Approximately 1.2 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year, with some 10% of those having type 1.5, according to the ADA.
An Ohio family reports that their newborn is “smiling again” after visiting a chiropractor to ease her nonstop crying. Click below to learn more about the potential benefits and risks. (Joseph Freeman; iStock)
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Actor Colin Farrell is launching a new foundation to raise awareness of a rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome, which affects his son — pictured with Farrell, at right, in 2009. (Getty Images)
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