Germany Reports First Case of New Mpox Variant
Germany has detected its first case of a new mpox variant, as reported by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for public health.
The infection, which was acquired abroad, was identified on October 18 as the institute emphasized that close physical contact is necessary for transmission of this variant.
Meanwhile, the institute currently assesses the risk to the general population in Germany as low but is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to adjust its risk evaluation if conditions change.
In August, the World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that spread to neighboring countries. This declaration highlighted the ongoing concerns surrounding the viral infection.
The spread of the new strain outside Africa was first confirmed on August 15, when health officials in Sweden reported an infection. This development underscores the need for vigilance as health authorities continue to track the virus and its variants globally.
