A staff member of a nursery in the canton of Bern has tested positive for monkeypox. The parents of the group of children have been notified. The risk of transmission is considered extremely low, the canton’s Health Directorate said in a statement on Tuesday.
The group concerned within the crèche comprises eight children and two adults. The parents of the toddlers have been informed by the management of the crèche and will receive a new telephone call from the cantonal doctor’s service on Wednesday.
All children can continue to come to the crèche. The situation was discussed with the Federal Office of Public Health (OFSP), specifies the canton. The Cantonal Medical Service acts in accordance with international guidelines.
The number of cases of monkey pox exceeded the 400 mark in Switzerland last Sunday, with 416 cases, according to the FOPH census. Monkeypox surveillance began on May 21. The disease has been reportable since July 20.
For the moment, the FOPH considers that the risk for the population is moderate, although the trend is slightly increasing. The population group currently most affected is that of men who have sex with men. Human-to-human transmission occurs through close physical contact. /ATS-lyg