So far, only men have been affected in Germany
WHO: Monkey pox can be dangerous for children and pregnant women
Geneva.About three weeks after monkey pox was first discovered in Germany, the number of infections registered by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has risen to 113. A large proportion of the reported infections can be traced back to the capital: As of Tuesday night, Berlin’s health administration had 72 people affected, 13 of whom were treated at the hospital. According to the data so far, Germany, together with the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal, is one of the European countries with a particularly large number of virus detections.
Read more after the ad
Read more after the ad
Over 1000 cases in non-endemic countries worldwide
The World Health Organization (WHO) commented on the current monkey cup outbreaks in a video conference on Wednesday. More than 1,000 cases from 29 countries where the virus is not endemic have been sent to the WHO, said WHO Director – General Tedros Ghebreyesus. The sudden spread of monkey pox in several non-endemic countries indicates that unnoticed transmissions have been taking place for some time. “We do not know how long,” said Ghebreyesus.
Read more after the ad
Read more after the ad
According to RKI, all the cases reported in Germany so far are men. In non-endemic countries around the world, men who have sex with men are particularly affected, the WHO also said. Nevertheless, the organization sees potential risks for vulnerable groups. Other transmissions are now reported from some countries, including infections in women.
Recommended editorial content
At this point you will find external content from Twitter, Inc., which complements the article. You can see it with a single click.
I consent to external content being displayed to me. This makes it possible to transfer personal data to third-party platforms. More about this in our confidentiality notices.
WHO: The risk is real
“The risk of monkey pox being established in non-endemic countries is real,” Ghebreyesus said. “The WHO is particularly concerned about the risks of the virus to vulnerable groups, including children and pregnant women.” However, this scenario can be prevented. There are effective protective measures against infection. Those who turn out to be ill should isolate themselves and avoid contact with other people in the household. Ghebreyesus urged the countries to continue efforts to identify all cases of monkey pox and track contacts to limit the outbreak.
RKI: 113 cases of monkey pox in Germany
About three weeks after monkey pox was first discovered in Germany, the number of infections detected by the Robert Koch Institute has risen to 113.
© Source: dpa
Compared to smallpox, which has been extinct since 1980, monkey pox is considered a less serious disease. According to RKI, the pathogen is usually transmitted from person to person through close physical contact. Experts had warned about the spread of the virus, for example at upcoming festivals and parties.
Read more after the ad
Read more after the ad
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe last week, investigations into previous cases suggest that the outbreak in the WHO’s Europe region was already underway in mid-April. It is the largest and most geographically widespread monkey cup outbreak ever reported outside the endemic areas of West and Central Africa.
With material from dpa
Download our new RND app for Android and iOS here for free