Isolated in Vienna – suspected monkeypox now also in Austria

A 35-year-old was admitted to a clinic in Favoriten on Sunday night with suspected monkey pox. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health confirmed a corresponding message on orf.at. An exact diagnosis should be available by Monday morning, but according to the report, the man had typical symptoms such as a low-grade fever and pimples on his face.

Insulated according to regulations
Suspicion had thus already arisen in the rescue vehicle and therefore the patient was admitted to the Infectiology Department of the hospital. The Ministry of Health was informed of the suspected case by the responsible Viennese authorities, who are also responsible for tracing contacts, and the patient was isolated according to the rules, the spokesman said.

Already 108 suspected cases outside Africa
So far, 108 (suspected) cases have been reported in ten countries outside Africa. According to experts, the situation is “unusually dynamic”, but people are “prepared”. Health authorities announced on Friday that they would be ready to start contact tracing early next week after the World Health Organization (WHO) called for all contacts with infected people to be traced.

Incubation period: 21 days
According to the current state of knowledge, those people who have sexual contact with many different people are most at risk. In principle, the virus can also be transmitted through close physical contact. Researchers speak of an incubation period of 21 days. In other words, the time it takes for an infection to become a disease.