Monkeypox cases in Munich: what is known about the first patients - new information on symptoms

Created: 05/25/2022, 11:29 am

By: Theresa Kuchler

Two cases of monkeypox have now been confirmed in Munich.

The city's health department reveals what is known about the infections.

Munich – It was only a few days ago that news in the Republic caused a stir: the first case of monkeypox in Germany was confirmed in Munich*.

Just four days later, on May 24, the second report of an infection with the virus followed.

A total of three monkeypox cases have been confirmed in Bavaria, two of them in Munich and one in Ansbach (as of May 25).

The Munich patients are currently in the Schwabing Clinic, where they are being treated in isolation.

As the city's health department reports, the two men are not mutual contacts.

The second infected person, a 32-year-old from Munich, did not contract the 26-year-old who was diagnosed with the first case of monkeypox on May 20.

Monkey pox in Munich: What is known about the cases so far

The first infected had to be medically examined immediately after noticing the first symptoms.

A special PCR test by the Bundeswehr Institute for Microbiology finally confirmed that the 26-year-old was suffering from a mild variant of the monkeypox virus.

The 26-year-old has now overcome the general symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing and high temperature.

However, the patient still suffers from the smallpox-like skin changes, which are also accompanied by corresponding itching.

According to the health department, the man had four contacts.

Everyone was quarantined, but no one showed any symptoms.

Monkey pox: Munich patients suffer from pustules

The 32-year-old also suffers from the typical pustules that the monkeypox virus triggers.

He is treated with a zinc ointment to relieve it.

The health department reports that he noticed the first symptoms on May 19 - shortly after he returned to Munich from Gran Canaria.

On May 23, he went to the Munich Clinic in Schwabing for treatment himself.

A PCR test also confirmed monkeypox here.

The patient states that since his return he has not had any contacts that he could have infected.

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Health expert: "Contagion from person to person possible" - incubation period up to three weeks

Prof. Christian Weidner knows how quickly the monkeypox virus can spread from person to person.

He is the President of the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) and says: "In principle, infection from person to person is possible, but usually only likely with intensive physical contact." In addition, the incubation period is quite long.

"In the case of an infection with the monkeypox virus, it can take 7 to 21 days for the first symptoms to appear," says Weidner.

Although monkeypox infections are increasing in Munich and Bavaria, the state capital is not concerned.

After all, the experts from the State Office for Health currently assess the general risk of infection for the Bavarian population as low.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach nevertheless wants to implement stricter measures to contain monkeypox.

In the event of an infection, he recommends a quarantine of at least three weeks.