First Case of New Apepox Variant Detected in Germany

berlin - A new variant of mpox, clade Ib, has been reported in Germany for the first time, originating from African countries. The RKI confirmed the infection occurred abroad.

A new variant of mpox, known as clade Ib, has been detected in Germany, marking the first appearance of this strain in a neighboring country of the Netherlands. The RKI, a government agency, stated that the infection took place outside the country.

The Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) has not yet identified clade Ib in the Netherlands.

This rapid spread of the virus variant has raised international concerns this year, leading the World Health Organization to declare it an international emergency in August.

Mpox, or monkeypox virus, has two versions: Clade I, originating from Congo and its surroundings, and Clade II, from West Africa. The latter circulated in Europe two years ago, mostly affecting men engaging in multiple sexual partners. Over 22,000 cases were reported within the European Union, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, with around 1300 cases in the Netherlands.

It remains unclear whether the new variant is more fatal and its implications in Europe. While Africa sees a higher mortality rate, virologists suggest this may be due to other health risks and weak healthcare systems. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) assures that the risk in Europe is minimal, and available vaccines are effective.

Individuals infected with the virus may experience symptoms 5 to 21 days post-infection, including fever, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and fatigue. Skin rash appears after a few days, with most symptoms resolving within weeks. Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease but spreads through skin-to-skin contact, posing a risk to everyone.