Deadly new Mpox variant lands in Germany
An infection with the new 1b strain of mpox was detected in Germany on Oct. 18. So reports the authoritative German Robert Koch Institute. This is the first infection in Germany with this new, deadly variant of mpox. The German institute emphasizes that “the risk to public health in Germany is weak.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international medical emergency in mid-August because of a disturbing outbreak of a new, more deadly variant of mpox, also known as monkeypox, in Africa. And so now this new 1b strain of mpox has also turned up in Germany in a person who was infected abroad. This is not the first infection with mpox on European territory. Indeed, a first case of this more dangerous variant was already reported in Sweden in mid-August. The virus is currently circulating mainly in Africa, and the Congo has been particularly badly affected.
(SR for Tagtik/Illustration picture: Unsplash)