Germany’s disease control center announced Tuesday the detection of a new, more infectious variant of the mpox virus, marking the first case in the country.
The Robert Koch Institute confirmed that the infected individual contracted the virus abroad but did not provide further details about the location or treatment of the case.
The institute stated it is closely monitoring the situation and will adjust its recommendations as necessary.
The first case of this mpox variant outside Africa was confirmed in Sweden in mid-August, followed by a reported case in Thailand.
The World Health Organization has declared the rising spread of mpox in Africa a global health emergency. Most cases have been reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where outbreaks are currently affecting 18 of the continent’s 55 countries. As of last week, officials reported 1,000 deaths attributed to mpox, with a total of 42,438 suspected cases and 8,113 confirmed cases in Africa since the beginning of the year, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mpox primarily spreads through close contact with infected individuals, including sexual contact. Also known as monkeypox, it is related to the smallpox virus but typically causes milder symptoms, such as fever, chills, and body aches. In more severe cases, individuals may develop lesions on the face, hands, chest, and genitals.
Earlier this year, researchers reported the emergence of a new form of mpox in a Congolese mining town that appears to cause milder symptoms while spreading more easily.
