++ Monkeypox: Infection detected in Hesse

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Created: 5/25/2022 5:03 am

Von: Sophia Lother

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The monkeypox virus continues to spread. Several cases are known in Germany – the first infection is also confirmed in Hesse.

Update from Tuesday, May 24th, 8:00 p.m.: According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, a monkeypox infection has also been detected in Hesse. The state authority in Wiesbaden announced that the result had been confirmed using electron microscopy and PCR by the Institute for Medical Virology at the University Hospital in Frankfurt. The infected person came to the university clinic on May 24 with the corresponding symptoms. The age and gender of the person concerned could not initially be found out.

The first proven case in Germany was reported from Bavaria last week. The man concerned is said to have been temporarily in Frankfurt am Main.

A case of monkeypox was also reported in Hesse (symbol image). © Christian Ohde/Imago

Hesse’s Health Minister Kai Klose (Greens) announced that the general risk of infection for the population was considered low. “Nevertheless, we are of course following developments very closely.”

Two other cases of monkeypox had previously been confirmed in Bavaria. The Ministry of Health in Munich announced that both patients had recently returned to the Free State independently of one another from a trip abroad. One of the two patients is now in the Munich Clinic Schwabing. The other case was reported from the Ansbach district, where the person concerned is now also in isolation.

Monkeypox infection: More than 250 cases worldwide

Update from Tuesday, May 24, 3:15 p.m.: Worldwide and in EU isolated cases of monkeypox reappear. A first case of monkeypox has been reported in Slovenia and the Czech Republic. Several infections with monkeypox are also known in Germany. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported more than 250 cases of monkeypox from 16 countries (as of May 23).

In Great Britain 56 cases of monkeypox have been registered so far. British health authorities have given more than 1,000 doses of the smallpox vaccine Imvanex to contacts since the rise in monkeypox cases. This was announced by a spokeswoman for the health authority on Tuesday (May 24). Another 3,500 cans are in stock, the spokeswoman added.

Monkeypox in Germany: Lothar Wieler assumes further cases

The RKI assumes further monkeypox diseases in Germany. It is clear that further cases are to be expected in this country, said RKI President Lothar Wieler on Tuesday (May 24) at the German Medical Association in Bremen. “Our goal is therefore to contain the outbreak,” says Wieler. This can be achieved through successful contact tracing, avoiding close contact with infected people and hygiene measures. Risk groups should be careful.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) does not expect a new pandemic to begin, but warned caution at a press conference on Tuesday (May 24): All sections of the population, including children and adolescents, could theoretically become infected with monkeypox. The eruption of The health politician wants to curb monkeypox in Germany through quarantine measures and ring vaccinations. In the case of ring vaccinations, contact persons are vaccinated.

More monkeypox infections: US prepares vaccinations for contacts

Update from Tuesday, May 24, 07:15: Die USA are preparing to vaccinate close contacts of infected people against monkeypox. “Right now, we’re hoping to get the vaccine distributed as widely as possible to those we know would benefit,” said Jennifer McQuiston of the CDC. According to CDC epidemiologist John Brooks, immunocompromised people in particular are at greater risk of developing the disease.

According to the CDC, the United States has around a thousand doses of smallpox and monkeypox vaccines. However, McQuiston announced “very quick” further deliveries. So far there has been one confirmed infection and a few suspected cases in the USA. Dozens of infections are already known in Europe, and there are also a few confirmed cases in Germany. In addition to the USA, the UK is also stocking up on vaccines.

The pediatricians in Germany meanwhile complain about a “scaremongering” in the case of monkeypox. The virus is “far less contagious than Corona” and is transmitted almost exclusively through “close physical contact and body fluids”, said the President of the Professional Association of Pediatricians (BVKJ), Thomas Fischbach, of the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. The risk of infection for children – and adults too – is therefore currently very low in Europe.

More monkeypox infections: Already the sixth case registered in Germany

Update from Monday, May 23, 5:46 p.m.: Six cases of monkeypox have already been registered in Germany by Monday afternoon (May 23). After the first case of illness recorded in Munich, there were initially three other confirmed infections in Berlin, as announced by the Federal Ministry of Health. The health ministries in Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt announced two other cases on Monday. According to AFP, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) announced that he would provide information on the current situation on Tuesday (May 24) together with RKI President Lothar Wieler and the President of the German Medical Association, Klaus Reinhardt.

Monkeypox: Will there be a vaccination and quarantine rules in Germany soon?

First report from Monday, May 23: Berlin – The monkeypox have now arrived in Germany. Four people with an infection have already been registered. The number of infections with the virus is increasing worldwide. But what plans do Germany and other affected countries have in the fight against the monkeypox virus?

Further containment measures are currently being prepared in Germany, emphasized the Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach (SPD) on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly. Together with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), isolation and quarantine recommendations are being developed to prevent the spread of monkeypox. In addition, it is being considered “whether we might have to make vaccination recommendations for people who are particularly at risk,” explained Lauterbach, according to the German Press Agency.

Monkeypox in Germany: is vaccination against the virus coming?

According to Lauterbach, vaccination of the general population is currently not under discussion. He advocated firm international containment. The global outbreak is so unusual that there is concern about whether it will be like previous monkeypox outbreaks. It is more likely that the way of spreading could have changed, “so that we now have to react quickly and hard to contain a global outbreak again”. One Monkeypox infection presents with specific symptomssuch as fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes.

Fever
Head, muscle and back pain
Swollen lymph nodes
chills
rash
Source: RKI

Vaccination against monkeypox coming? Experts speak out

The chairman of the World Medical Association, Frank Ulrich Montgomery, spoke to the newspapers of the Funke media group on the subject of vaccination and monkeypox. “Whoever is vaccinated against smallpox has good protection”. Anyone who is younger and does not have this vaccination is at higher risk of contracting monkeypox. “It would therefore make sense to offer vaccination to all younger people who are no longer subject to compulsory smallpox vaccination,” he emphasized.

The groups that are currently particularly at risk are in the foreground – “i.e. usually younger men with a lot of changing sexual contacts”. Such a vaccination campaign only makes sense if it is done worldwide. One Transmission of monkeypox is generally through close contact and via contaminated materials. The transmission over the air plays – differently than about Corona – but hardly a role

Monkeypox: quarantine and isolation in case of infection

In the fight against The British health authority UKHSA has now set a recommended quarantine period for monkeypox of three weeks for close contacts of infected people. Belgian authorities are ordering a 21-day isolation for infected people, as a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health confirmed to the dpa. This does not apply to contact persons there, they are only advised to be particularly careful. (slo with dpa/AFP)

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