Germany Confirms First Case of Deadly Mpox Virus Strain: RKI Issues Warning

A new infectious strain of the mpox virus has been detected in Germany. Health officials are monitoring the clade 1b variant closely.

New Strain of Deadly Mpox Virus Detected in Germany as Health Officials Monitor Global Spread

 

Berlin, Germany – The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has confirmed the first case of a more infectious strain of the mpox virus in Germany. The new clade 1b variant, which has already been detected in several countries, was brought to Germany by an individual who had been infected abroad. 

The institute did not provide further information on the patient or their location but stressed that the situation is being “monitored very closely.”

 

The discovery of this new mpox strain in Europe comes at a time when global health authorities are grappling with the virus’s resurgence. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the ongoing spread of mpox a global health emergency, with the latest wave of infections causing significant concern across Africa. Over 1,000 deaths have been reported on the continent, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has seen nearly 800 new cases in the past month alone.

 

Health officials have pointed out that while the new clade 1b form of mpox may lead to milder symptoms, it spreads more rapidly through close contact. Symptoms of mpox typically include a skin rash, fever, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Though most cases resolve without the need for medical intervention, the virus can be deadly, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems.

 

The RKI and other health agencies continue to advise the public to maintain cautious behavior, particularly with regard to close physical contact. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also noted that while no specific treatment exists for mpox, a two-dose vaccine is available.

 

The new strain of mpox has now been detected in several countries, including Sweden, Thailand, and India, in addition to Germany. The virus, which was first identified in laboratory monkeys in the 1950s, is primarily seen in central and western Africa but has increasingly been found in other regions in recent years. Health authorities worldwide are on high alert as the virus continues to spread.