Germany’s disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), announced on Tuesday that an mpox infection that was contracted abroad had been detected within the country.
Despite the detection, RKI officials do not believe there is now a greater risk to the wider population in Germany.
Infections from another strand of the virus, clade IIb, have been detected in a number of countries including Germany since May 2022.
According to the WHO, clade Ib is believed to be more contagious and more dangerous than previous mpox variants that have been seen in Germany.
The first case of the clade Ib mpox variant outside the African continent was confirmed in Sweden in mid-August.
Germany has discovered an mpox infection that was contracted overseas, according to a Tuesday announcement from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the country’s disease control agency.
According to RKI officials, the German public is not at increased risk as a result of the detection.
the RKI’s statement.
According to the institute’s website, “The RKI does not currently assume an increased risk from clade I viruses in Germany, but is monitoring the situation very closely and will adapt its recommendations if necessary.”.
The agency emphasized that “close physical contact is required” for mpox to spread. Additional information regarding the time and person of the initial infection was not supplied by the RKI.
It stated that the efficacy of currently available vaccines against clade I viruses is presumed.
Infections from clade IIb, another virus strand, have been found in several nations, including Germany, since May 2022.
Our understanding of the novel strain of mpox.
In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years.
This occurred following the spread of the new variant of the virus to neighboring countries from an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The World Health Organization states that clade Ib is thought to be more dangerous and contagious than earlier mpox variants observed in Germany. Public health experts caution that there is currently insufficient trustworthy data on the variant to make a firm determination.
In mid-August, Sweden confirmed the first case of the clade Ib mpox variant outside of Africa.
A common rash is one of the symptoms of mpox, along with potential fever, headache, and muscle soreness. Particularly in nations with robust healthcare systems, fatal cases are uncommon.
rc/wmr (AFP, DPA).
