In the city of Halle (Saale), an infection with monkeypox was detected for the first time on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. The Health Department has issued a 21-day quarantine at home for the person concerned and their close contacts in accordance with the specifications of the Robert Koch Institute.
Monkeypox is an infection caused by the Orthopoxvirus simiae virus. Symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, muscle and back pain, and swollen lymph nodes. A few days following the onset of fever, skin lesions develop that go through various stages from patch to pustule and ultimately crust and fall off.
The rash is usually concentrated on the face, palms, and soles of the feet. The skin and mucous membrane changes can also be found on the mouth, genitals and eyes. Transmission from person to person is considered rare and is usually only possible with close physical contact. The incubation period is five to 21 days. In Germany, since May 2022, an increase in monkeypox infections has been detected.
The Robert Koch Institute currently assesses the risk for the general public as low. A current situation assessment (as of June 9, 2022) is available on the RKI website.