2022–2023 mpox outbreak in Austria
| 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in Austria | |
|---|---|
| Disease | Mpox |
| Virus strain | Monkeypox virus (West African clade) |
| Location | Austria |
| Index case | Vienna, Austria[1] |
| Arrival date | 22 May 2022 (1 year, 11 months, 1 week and 1 day ago) |
| Date | 2 December 2022 |
| Confirmed cases | 327[2] |
| Suspected cases‡ | 0 |
Deaths | 0 |
| ‡Suspected cases have not been confirmed by laboratory tests as being due to this strain, although some other strains may have been ruled out. | |
The 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in Austria is part of the larger outbreak of human mpox caused by the West African clade of the monkeypox virus. Austria is the fifteenth country outside of Africa to experience an endemic mpox outbreak. The first case was reported in Vienna, Austria, on 22 May 2022.[1] As of 2 December, Austria has confirmed a total of 327 cases.[2]
Background
An ongoing
Transmission
A large portion of those infected were believed to have not recently traveled to areas of Africa where mpox is normally found, such as Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as central and western Africa. It is believed to be transmitted by close contact with sick people, with extra caution for those individuals with lesions on their skin or genitals, along with their bedding and clothing. The CDC has also stated that individuals should avoid contact and consumption of dead animals such as rats, squirrels, monkeys and apes along with wild game or lotions derived from animals in Africa.[6]
In addition to more common symptoms, such as fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes or lesions, some patients have also experienced proctitis, an inflammation of the rectum lining. CDC has also warned clinicians to not rule out mpox in patients with sexually transmitted infections since there have been reports of co-infections with syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes.[7]
History
The first known case was detected in on 22 May 2022, with a 35-year-old man in Vienna, Austria. The person was hospitalized in Vienna.[1] There, he tested positive for mpox, becoming the first case in Austria.
Two weeks after the man tested positive, additional cases were reported in Austria days later and more are being quarantined. As of 10 August, there are 175 cases and no suspected cases.[2]
Till 22 August 2022, there have been 217 confirmed cases of mpox in Austria.[8]
Responses and reactions
Hospitals have also begun making their own preparations to help control the current mpox outbreak, including screening patients, increasing decontamination and cleaning procedures,[9] and wearing appropriate safety gear (Personal protective equipment / Medical gown) when interacting with infected patients.
Austria also published a set of guidelines in hopes of containing the disease in the country. A three-week quarantine was set into place for infected patients. Isolation can be performed at home or at hospital, depending on the state of health of the patient, according to the Ministry of Health.[1][10]
See also
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d "Austria's first suspected monkeypox case reported in Vienna". Reuters. 22 May 2022.
- ^ a b c "2022 Monkeypox Outbreak Global Map". USA CDC. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ "Monkeypox – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". World Health Organization. 16 May 2022. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Pinkstone, Joe (17 May 2022). "Monkeypox 'spreading in sexual networks'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Nsofor, Ifeanyi (2 June 2022). "OPINION: Media coverage of monkeypox paints it as an African virus. That makes me mad". NPR. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ Vargas, Ramon Antonio (7 June 2022). "US raises monkeypox alert level but says risk to public remains low". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ "Monkeypox update: Where the outbreak stands now".
- ^ "Affenpocken Schweiz: 416 laborbestätigte Fälle". www.mittellaendische.ch. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
In Österreich wurden bislang 217 Fälle von Affenpocken gemeldet (Stand 22.08.2022).
[In Austria, 217 cases of monkeypox have been reported to date (as of Aug. 22, 2022).] - PMID 17965204.
- ^ "Austria makes quarantine announcement for monkeypox". The Local. 24 May 2022.
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