Germany identifies its first case of new mpox variant

The first case of the new mpox variant has been detected in Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for public health said on Tuesday, adding that it viewed the risk to the wider population as low.

In a statement, the institute said an infection caused by the new variant, which had been acquired abroad, was detected on Oct. 18. It noted close physical contact was required for transmission.

"The RKI currently considers the risk to the health of the general population in Germany to be low," the RKI said, adding it was monitoring the situation closely and would adapt its assessment if necessary.

The World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years in August after an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighboring countries.

The first sign of its spread outside the African continent came on Aug. 15 when global health officials confirmed an infection with a new strain of the mpox virus in Sweden.

What is mpox?

Mpox, a viral disease similar to smallpox, causes symptoms like fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that develops into blisters. There are two primary subtypes of the virus: clade 1 and clade 2.

Vaccination campaigns and public awareness efforts in many countries helped reduce the number of cases worldwide, leading the WHO to lift the emergency in May 2023. At that time, there were roughly 87,400 reported cases and 140 deaths.

However, in 2024, a new epidemic has surfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In addition to clade 1, which typically affects children, a newly identified strain called clade 1b has emerged in the region.