The course of the disease is mild and in most cases ends without treatment. People who have been vaccinated against smallpox are also largely protected against monkeypox, which is currently spreading rapidly in Europe. Nevertheless, virologists advise more caution, as it is still unclear why the virus, which originally appeared in Africa and spread to humans, is now spreading in Europe. Health authorities across Europe are already preparing for the next epidemic. Belgium has now even introduced a 21-day quarantine for infected persons.
More than 90 infections were confirmed on Saturday in countries where the virus, which originates from West and Central Africa, is not normally found, according to the World Health Organization. In Austria, the first suspected case was confirmed. There have been four confirmed cases in Belgium so far. However, the country’s authorities expect many more cases, which can probably be confirmed in the coming days. A particular target is a fetish festival with 80,000 visitors. According to media reports, three of the four confirmed illnesses are participants in the Darklands Festival in Antwerp, which took place in early May.
The festival organizers have already warned visitors on their Facebook page and called on them to monitor their health. “We have reason to believe that the virus was brought in by foreign guests,” it said.
The Netherlands: call for self-isolation
As the “Brussels Times” reports, the mandatory quarantine does not apply to contacts. It is also a notifiable disease in the Netherlands. Infected people are asked by health authorities to go into voluntary isolation.
The person who became ill in Austria is currently in an isolation ward in a hospital in Vienna. The 35-year-old was taken to a clinic in Vienna-Favoriten on Sunday evening with typical symptoms such as a low-grade fever and pimples on his face. “So far he is doing well, he is stable. He has skin changes, he has mild flu symptoms,” said the spokeswoman for the Vienna Health Association, Nina Brenner-Küng, late Sunday afternoon.
Virologist: Not comparable to the coronavirus
According to Monika Redlberger-Fritz, a virologist at MedUni Vienna, those affected are contagious all the time. The disease can be transmitted more quickly, especially through intimate contact, such as sexual intercourse. According to experts, there is still no clear explanation for the cases that have occurred in Europe. We are still waiting for contact tracing to better investigate the origin. However, that does not mean that you should constantly expect new viruses comparable to the corona pandemic in the future.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
