First case of new mpox variant identified in Germany

Germany has detected its first case of the new mpox variant, clade 1b, in a 33-year-old man.

Germany has reported its first case of the new mpox variant, according to the Robert Koch Institute for public health, which also stated that the risk to the wider population is considered low.

The infected individual is a 33-year-old man who was admitted to a hospital for treatment on October 12 and subsequently isolated, the health ministry in North Rhine-Westphalia said. 

The case was identified in Cologne, with further testing on October 18 confirming the patient had the clade 1b variant, a newer strain of the virus linked to a global health emergency declared by the World Health Organization in August.

"The RKI currently considers the risk to the health of the general population in Germany to be low," the institute mentioned, adding that it is closely monitoring the situation and will update its assessment if necessary. The RKI also emphasized that close physical contact is typically required for transmission.

The ongoing outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has spread to nearby countries. According to the state ministry, the patient likely contracted the virus in an East African country.

The first instance of the virus spreading beyond Africa was detected on August 15, when global health officials confirmed a new mpox strain infection in Sweden. Additionally, two patients in Norway have been diagnosed with the clade 2 variety, a less severe form compared to the clade 1b strain, according to Oslo's municipal authorities.

Copied