Health officials are warning EU countries to prepare for more imported cases of mpox.
It follows a case being identified yesterday in Sweden - the first such known case in Europe of the new outbreak.
Earlier this week the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an outbreak of the virus in Africa as 'a public health emergency of international concern'.
In a new risk assessment, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says it is "highly likely" that the EU will see more imported cases of mpox.
The health body says the likelihood of sustained transmission in Europe "is very low provided that imported cases are diagnosed quickly and control measures are implemented".
The ECDC, however. says health authorities should maintain "high levels of preparedness planning and awareness raising activities" to allow rapid detection and response of any further cases that may reach Europe.
"Ensuring effective surveillance, laboratory testing, epidemiological investigation and contact tracing capacities will be vital to detecting cases of MPXV clade I on the continent and activating any response," it says.
'Increased risk'
Countries are also being advised to issue travel advice for people visiting or returning from affected areas.
"The likelihood of infection for people from the EU/EEA travelling to affected areas who have close contact with affected communities is high," it says.
ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner says there is an increased risk to the general population.
"As a result of the rapid spread of this outbreak in Africa, ECDC has increased the level of risk for the general population in the EU/EEA and travellers to affected areas," she said.
"Due to the close links between Europe and Africa, we must be prepared for more imported clade I cases," she added.
It is the second time in three years that the WHO has designated an mpox epidemic as a global emergency.
More than 17,000 mpox cases and at least 571 deaths have been confirmed in Africa this year, officials have said. The figures exceed last year's totals.
