The viral disease Mpox, also known as “monkeypox”, is currently spreading rapidly across the African continent. Some doctors in Berlin are now recommending vaccinations, while others are still reassuring people.
Due to the increasing spread of Mpox viruses in African countries, experts in Berlin are advising that risk groups be vaccinated. A variant is currently being seen in some African countries that is very easily transmitted and is leading to more deaths, said Berlin general practitioner Jens Schellenberg to the rbb on Thursday. He works in a sexual health practice.
Vaccination recommended for risk groups
Schellenberg says that the virus – also known as “monkeypox” – is not only transmitted through sexual contact, but generally through skin contact. Attempts are being made to take preventive measures through immunization. However, in Berlin there is no vaccination agreement between the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) and the associations of health insurance companies so that the latter can cover the costs. At present, the vaccination can only be carried out as a private service, which many patients cannot afford due to the costs. An agreement must be reached quickly.
The Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko) recommends vaccination for certain risk groups, especially men who have sex with men. The medical director of the Berlin Center for Travel and Tropical Medicine (BCRT), Thomas Jelinek, also recommends vaccination, for example for people “with a certain sexual behavior” or travelers to Africa, as he told rbb.
RKI sees no increased risk
Jelinek does not believe that an epidemic is now imminent. “Monkeypox is not easily transmitted, you need quite intensive contact with the infected, usually of a sexual nature,” he said. He believes that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an international emergency is more of a measure to get help for the affected countries underway – so that vaccines can be donated, for example.
The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) stated that it does not currently believe that there is an increased risk from the viruses, but continues to monitor the situation very closely. According to the report, Mpox cases of the less dangerous subgroup 2b were first reported in Germany in May 2022. Since then, around 3,800 cases have been reported, almost all of them by autumn 2022. In Berlin, there were no more cases until October of last year. However, most of the registered cases occurred.
Global emergency due to Mpox: How dangerous is the virus
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an international emergency in view of the viral disease Mpox in Africa. In Berlin, the number of cases is currently low: According to the State Office for Health and Social Affairs, 33 infections have been registered since the beginning of the year. How great is the danger? Article by Thomas Rostekmore
First case outside Africa in Sweden
The virus variant 1b currently circulating in Africa has now been detected in Europe for the first time. The Swedish health authority announced a first case of infection on Thursday. A person who had “received treatment” in Stockholm was diagnosed with an Mpox infection, the authority said. This is the first case of infection to be diagnosed outside of Africa.
Typical symptoms of an infection with the 1b variant are rashes all over the body. In milder variants, the rash is limited to individual parts of the body such as the mouth, face or genitals. In addition to pustules, fever is also one of the typical symptoms of the disease.
The WHO had already declared an international health emergency because of Mpox two years ago. This was ended in May 2023 after the number of cases had dropped significantly. Due to the spread of the new Mpox variant in Africa, the WHO declared such an emergency again on Wednesday.
Broadcast: rbb24 evening show, 15.08.2024, 19:30
