Mpox Berlin

The 2022–2023 Monkeypox Outbreak in Germany

Overview

The 2022–2023 monkeypox outbreak in Germany is part of an ongoing global outbreak of human monkeypox caused by the West African clade of the monkeypox virus.

As of August 2023, more than 100 countries have reported monkeypox cases in the course of this outbreak.

In Germany, Berlin has been the most severely affected city.

Timeline

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for a meeting last Wednesday to seek advice on whether to declare the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

We report re-emergence of monkeypox in Germany, mainly in Berlin, since July 2023 after six months without a single case in the German notification system.

Symptoms

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which was first discovered in 1958.

Symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and fatigue.

A rash typically develops within one to three days after the onset of fever, often beginning on the face and spreading to other parts of the body.

Transmission

Monkeypox is transmitted through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with contaminated materials.

The virus can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, or contaminated surfaces.

Monkeypox is not as easily transmitted as some other viruses, such as the flu or COVID-19.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for monkeypox.

Treatment is supportive and includes measures to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.

In some cases, antiviral medications may be used to treat monkeypox.

Prevention

There are several steps you can take to prevent monkeypox:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated with the virus.

Outlook

The outlook for people with monkeypox is generally good.

Most people recover from monkeypox within a few weeks.

However, in some cases, monkeypox can be fatal.