A new variant of the rare viral disease Mpox has been detected in Germany for the first time. This is reported by the Robert Koch Institute.
An infection with the new Mpox variant clade Ib has been detected for the first time in Germany. The infection occurred abroad and was detected last Friday, said the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). As the “WDR” reports, citing the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Health, a man from Cologne is said to have been infected with the new variant of the virus. It is said that the 33-year-old was infected during a stay in Africa.
According to its own information, despite the evidence, the RKI “still does not assume an increased risk” in Germany. The first case of this Mpox virus variant outside the African continent was previously confirmed in Sweden in mid-August.
The Mpox symptoms include a typical rash and often general symptoms of the disease such as fever, headache and muscle pain (you can read more about the course here). The disease can be life-threatening for small children and people who are already weakened by other illnesses.
Clade Ib is thought to have more severe disease than clade IIb and is said to be more contagious. However, the data situation does not yet provide any reliable information on this.
In August, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a “public health emergency of international concern” due to 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 aid organization Doctors Without Borders expressed concern about the speed at which Mpox is spreading in Africa.
After the case became known in Sweden, it was said that the person concerned had previously been in Africa. The European health authority ECDC had been expecting further imported cases in Europe for some time.
The Mpox virus is primarily transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact, such as during sex or close hugging, massaging and kissing.
There are smallpox vaccines that also work against Mpox, reducing the risk of an outbreak and mitigating the course of the disease. The German vaccination commission Stiko currently only recommends its use to certain risk groups.