welt.de
Mpox Outbreak in Europe
The WHO declared an international health emergency due to the spread of Mpox. The first European cases were reported in the UK, and information on transmission, symptoms, and severity is provided.
German
Germany
HealthGermany European UnionOutbreakEmergencyVirusDisease
World Health Organization (Who)
Hans Henri P. Kluge
- What action did the WHO take in August concerning the Mpox outbreak?
- The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern in August due to the increasing spread of Mpox in Africa.
- Besides Europe and Africa, where else have recent Mpox cases been reported?
- Cases have been reported in several African countries (DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya) and other countries like Sweden, India, Thailand, and Germany. The first Ib clade infection in Germany was detected in mid-October in Cologne.
- How is Mpox primarily transmitted, and what is the current risk assessment?
- Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is primarily transmitted through close skin-to-skin contact, such as sex, hugging, massage, or kissing. The risk to the public remains low, but health systems should enhance surveillance and contact tracing.
- Where were the first cases of Mpox in Europe reported, and what clade was involved?
- Two people in the UK were the first to be infected with the Mpox virus in Europe, specifically the Ib clade. They lived with someone who had recently traveled to several African countries.
- What are the symptoms of Mpox, and what is known about the severity and contagiousness of different clades?
- Mpox symptoms include a characteristic rash and often general symptoms like fever, headache, and muscle pain. While usually not fatal, particularly in countries with good medical care, the Ib clade might lead to more severe cases and be more contagious than the IIb clade.