First monkeypox case in NRW?
"Strong indications" of illness in Cologne
Created: 05/23/2022, 18:17
By: Johanna Werning
In Cologne there is probably the first case of monkeypox.
There are “strong indications” of a disease.
The test result of the man (45) is still pending.
On Monday, May 23, the city of Cologne confirmed that there was a possible case of monkeypox in Cologne.
A 45-year-old from Cologne shows “strong evidence” of the disease after a vacation trip.
The city speaks of typical symptoms.
However, the test result is still pending.
In addition, a 60-year-old from Cologne is considered the contact person of an infected person.
So far, however, he has shown no symptoms.
Cologne – The first monkeypox case probably reached Cologne.
This was confirmed by a city spokeswoman when asked by 24RHEIN on Monday afternoon.
“The man is currently in quarantine at home.
The test result is still pending.” However, there are “strong indications” of illness with the virus and typical symptoms, the city spokeswoman said on May 23.
Suspected monkeypox in Cologne: 45-year-old infected on vacation?
The city of Cologne gave further details about the patient in the late afternoon: “A 45-year-old man who had previously returned from vacation has symptoms that match the disease.
The patient has received an administrative order from the Cologne health department and is not allowed to leave his apartment.
A test result of a tissue examination is still pending.”
The suspected case in Cologne is now being examined in the laboratory.
This is what the monkeypox virus looks like on an electron micrograph.
© ANDREA MAENNEL/afp
It is still unclear when the first symptoms appeared and how the possible infection took place, as reported by 24RHEIN.
And according to the city spokeswoman, it is still uncertain when the test result can be expected in Cologne.
Monkeypox in Cologne?
Kölner had contact with an infected person
However, regardless of the suspected case, there is already a contact person who had contact with an infected person on vacation and has now returned.
The 60-year-old from Cologne has not shown any symptoms so far.
Despite this, he was advised to stay at home and avoid close contacts.
Monkeypox: All clear in Düsseldorf
If the suspicion is confirmed in the laboratory test in Cologne, it may be the first official case of monkeypox in NRW.
So far, there have only been proven outbreaks in Germany in the cities of Munich and Berlin.
However, the Munich patient also recently stayed in Düsseldorf.
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A spokeswoman for the NRW Ministry of Health announced on Saturday that "possible contacts of people with the monkeypox virus" exist.
Now, however, there is the all-clear for Düsseldorf: The monkeypox infected person who is being treated in Munich was in Düsseldorf, but the stay must have taken place before the patient was actually infected with the monkeypox virus.
This was announced by a spokeswoman for the city of Düsseldorf on Monday.
The infection only occurred during a stopover on the onward journey to Munich.
Monkeypox: how dangerous is the disease?
How do you get infected?
But what exactly is monkeypox and how dangerous is the viral disease?
“Monkeypox is a rare viral disease that can be transmitted to humans from animals, probably mainly rodents.
Transmission from person to person is rare, but possible, especially in close contact," explains the
RKI
.
And also Dr.
Johannes Nießen, head of the Cologne health department, explains: “The transmission of monkeypox cannot be compared to the transmission of the corona virus.
Therefore there is no reason to panic.
Nevertheless, the Cologne health department advises caution: If you have symptoms or are in close contact with people with such symptoms, you should isolate yourself and have them examined as soon as possible.
Contact persons should avoid close contacts and stay at home.”
One had prepared for infectious diseases of all kinds in Cologne.
In addition, the Cologne health department is in close contact with the state center for health in North Rhine-Westphalia and the clinics.
Monkeypox case in Cologne: what are the symptoms?
The most striking symptom of monkeypox: smallpox all over the body (archive image) © CDC/Brian WJ Mahy/dpa
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and back pain, and swollen lymph nodes.
As the disease progresses, smallpox form on the skin, which eventually crusts over and falls off.
"The skin lesions often begin on the face and then spread to other parts of the body," explains the RKI.
As a rule, the disease with monkeypox is mild.
According to the current findings of the
RKI
, a risk to the health of the general population in Germany is considered to be low.
Even if further cases of the virus disease cannot be ruled out.
(
jw)
