The number of confirmed cases of monkeypox reported to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Germany has continued to rise. The RKI showed 33 pieces of evidence on its website on Tuesday, after 21 on Monday.

The number of federal states that reported the actually rare virus disease remained unchanged (Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt). The RKI did not publish any further information on the infections and the patients. Most of them should not be seriously ill.

Experts had expected a further increase in the number of discovered monkeypox infections given the unusual outbreak in several western countries. As the British health authority announced on Monday evening, the number of cases in Great Britain has already risen to almost 180.

People have been urged to continue to watch out for new spots, blisters or ulcers and, if in doubt, to limit their contacts.

Monkeypox is considered a less severe 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.

The symptoms usually go away on their own within a few weeks, but can lead to medical complications and, in very rare cases, death in some people.