Germany identifies its first case of new mpox variant

BERLIN (Reuters) -The first case of the new mpox variant has been detected in Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for public health said on Tuesday, adding that it viewed the risk to the wider population as low.

In a statement, the institute said an infection caused by the new variant, which had been acquired abroad, was detected on Oct. 18. It noted close physical contact was required for transmission.

"The RKI currently considers the risk to the health of the general population in Germany to be low," the RKI said, adding it was monitoring the situation closely and would adapt its assessment if necessary.

The World Health Organization declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years in August after an outbreak of the viral infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to neighbouring countries.

The first sign of its spread outside the African continent came on Aug. 15 when global health officials confirmed an infection with a new strain of the mpox virus in Sweden.

(Reporting by Holger Hansen, Writing by Madeline Chambers, Editing by Rachel More and Barbara Lewis)