It is reminiscent of the situation at the beginning of the corona pandemic: not only droplets, but also aerosols can transmit monkeypox. A new report by DHS Science and Technology provides evidence of this. A renowned epidemiologist therefore warns. What you need to know now.
The number of monkeypox virus infections is steadily increasing – and has now reached a high of 1000 infections per day worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared an “emergency of international concern”.
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), 2887 cases were reported in Germany by Friday. There is also a significant increase in the number of cases in Germany after the virus was first detected in May 2022. !function(){var t=window.addEventListener?”addEventListener”:”attachEvent”;(0,window[t])(“attachEvent”==t?”onmessage”:”message”,function(t){if (“string”==typeof t.data
The American epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding warns on Twitter of the further spread of the virus. According to Feigl-Ding, the pathogen would persist in the atmosphere very stubbornly – and could therefore also be transmitted through the air.
It is also problematic that the symptoms of infection with the virus usually do not appear at the beginning. Those affected do not notice that they are infected, do not take protective measures such as isolation or quarantine and infect other people during the incubation period. As a result, the transmission of the virus is more difficult to control, explains the ex-Harvard professor.
The incubation period is the period from infection to outbreak, in the case of monkeypox there can be five to 21 days in between. Those affected usually notice the first typical symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches and sometimes painful rashes up to nodules and blisters, pustules, wounds and scabs.
In his explanations, the epidemiologist refers to a report by DHS Science and Technology, the scientific department of the United States Department of Homeland Security.
According to the report, infected people are already contagious before the typical rash appears. In addition, the virus stays in the air for several days to weeks – according to which transmission via the air we breathe, body fluids such as saliva or contaminated surfaces is possible.
Feigl-Ding also points out the numerous transmission routes through which the virus can be transmitted:
So far it has been assumed that only very close physical contact – usually in the context of sexual activities – leads to transmission of the virus.
This can also be read at the RKI.
The WHO also informs:
The transfer can also be done through
A current study had previously confirmed that after the typical skin rash has subsided, viral DNA is excreted via the upper respiratory tract for a longer period of time. Accordingly, an infected person can be contagious even before the appearance of visible symptoms and after they have disappeared. An important point that should be taken into account, especially when participating in major events.
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The close contact in particular brings with it an increased risk of infection. Accordingly, the holding of events should be weighed up at regular intervals against the background of current case numbers and the latest scientific findings on the virus.
Positive trend in Germany: According to the analyzes of the bioinformatician Cornelius Römer, “Germany is one of the few countries where the incidence is (slowly) going down”.
