The number of registered monkeypox cases in Berlin has continued to rise. As of Tuesday afternoon, 72 infections had been registered in the capital, 13 patients were in the hospital, as reported by the Senate Department for Science, Health, Care and Equality in an online overview.
Before the Pentecost weekend on Friday afternoon, there were still 48 confirmed cases. The first cases in Berlin became known two and a half weeks ago.
Nationwide, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported 80 proofs of monkeypox on Tuesday – but before the reported numbers from Berlin, where there are a particularly large number of cases. Nine federal states reported cases of the actually rare virus disease: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt.
“Since the infection is likely to occur via contact with the mucous membranes, close physical/sexual contact with different people or strangers should also be avoided if possible,” advises the Berlin health administration. Safer sex rules such as the use of condoms should be observed, it said.
Monkeypox is considered a less serious disease compared to smallpox, which has been eradicated since 1980. According to the RKI, the pathogen is usually transmitted from person to person through close physical contact.
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Experts assume that the outbreak can be contained. The risk to the general public is still considered to be low.
