Number of monkeypox cases in Berlin slowly increasing

Ulrike Gote, Berlin Senator for Science, Health, Care and Equality.

In Berlin, 18 monkeypox cases have now been confirmed.

In addition, there were seven more suspected cases, said health senator Ulrike Gote (Greens) on Tuesday after the senate meeting. Five of those affected had been hospitalised, all of them men. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported 33 cases nationwide on Tuesday, up from 21 on Monday.

Transmission through close body contact

The monkeypox virus is transmitted through close physical contact and especially through the mucous membranes, Gote explained. "The virus does not differentiate at all according to sexual orientation." The virus is not comparable to the coronavirus, among other things it is not as contagious. Nevertheless, it is important to take it seriously and to consult a doctor if symptoms or first signs appear. This also applies to contact persons of infected persons because of the tracing of infection chains.

Fatal cases very rare

Monkeypox is considered a less severe disease compared to smallpox, which has been eradicated since 1980. The symptoms usually disappear on their own within a few weeks, but can lead to medical complications and, in very rare cases, death in some people.