virus
New Mpox variant is spreading in Germany – family affected
After initial detection in October, further cases of infections with the new Mpox variant 1b have now been recorded in Germany. A family with school children is affected.
In Germany, further cases of the new variant of the Mpox virus have been detected, including in two children. Initially, an infection with the so-called clade 1b was confirmed, said the Rheinisch-Bergische Kreis in Bergisch Gladbach near Cologne. The virus was then detected in three other family members, including two school-age children. The family is in quarantine. So far the course of the disease has been mild.
The health department identified and informed contact persons from, among other things, the school and professional environment. They were informed about possible symptoms and protective measures. According to current knowledge, there have been no further infections so far, said a spokeswoman.
The Mpox symptoms include a typical skin rash and often general symptoms such as fever, headache and muscle pain. Fatal outcomes are rare.
Infected with Mpox while traveling to Africa
The Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, located east of Cologne, explained that the infection was probably due to the travel of a family member with close contact with the local population in Africa.
A first case of Mpox was detected in Cologne in mid-October. The patient is 33 years old and probably acquired the infection in an East African country, it said.
Mpox – previously called monkeypox – is not very contagious. “Close physical contact is required for Mpox to be transmitted,” says the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). The virus is primarily transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact, such as during sex or close hugging, massaging and kissing.
WHO declares virus an “emergency of international concern”
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a “public health emergency of international scope” in August due to the new virus variant and the increasing spread of Mpox in Africa. This is the highest alert level that is intended to bring authorities around the world to greater attention.
The Mpox virus has various rodents in West and Central Africa as natural hosts. Monkeys and humans are so-called false hosts to which the pathogens are less well adapted. The virus has two genetic clades (1 and 2). The international Mpox events since May 2022 have been predominantly due to clade 2b. Later, infections with the clade 1b virus increased in Africa, and the first such cases have now been recorded internationally.
The RKI has already recorded around 3,800 cases of clade 2b nationwide, the majority of them (around 3,700) from early summer to autumn 2022. Since summer 2023, case numbers at a low level – in the single to low double-digit range per month – have been continuously reported. Deaths have not yet been registered in Germany.
DPA
yks
Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
