An electron micrograph shows a monkeypox virus.
© dpa
About two months after the first confirmed case of monkeypox in Germany, the number of detected cases has risen to more than 2000, with Berlin continuing to be particularly affected.
The state office for health and social affairs in the capital reported 1140 affected persons on Tuesday, almost all of whom are male. Nationwide, exactly 2033 cases have been reported to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) so far.
Vaccinations against monkeypox, which have so far only been recommended to certain groups, started in Berlin in the middle of last week. On Tuesday, the Senate Department for Health spoke of a very high demand. However, it is not yet clear how many people have already been vaccinated. "The vaccination monitoring is just starting, we do not have any valid figures yet," it said. According to the authority, the 8,000 vaccine doses available in Berlin will be used up quickly. "That is why we need more vaccine doses from the federal government in the near future.
"According to current knowledge, transmission in this outbreak occurs primarily in the context of sexual activities, currently especially among men who have sexual contact with other men," writes the RKI. Basically, anyone who has close physical contact with an infected person can contract the virus.
According to the RKI, the disease is mild in most people and usually heals on its own. However, severe courses are possible, especially in children or people with a weakened immune system. The RKI currently estimates that there is little risk to the health of the general population.