UK tourists have been issued a Germany travel warning as holidaymakers risk catching an “infectious disease” that causes “chills and exhaustion”. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) shared the latest health information for the European Union country.
TravelHealthPro stated: “On October 18, 2024, a case of mpox clade Ib has been confirmed in Germany, connected to travel abroad.” Tourists were advised to “take extra precautions.” It added: “Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the virus MPXV. Other diseases in the same family include variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus and cowpox virus.
“Mpox outbreaks are caused by different types of MPXV called clades.” The incubation period (time from infection to first symptoms) for mpox is between five and 21 days. Symptoms usually begin with fever, headache, muscle/backache, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. During this time a person may be infectious.
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Between one to five days after the fever appears, a rash develops, often starting on the face and spreading to other parts of the body. This rash goes through different stages, ending with a scab that later falls off. People are contagious until all their scabs fall off and the skin underneath is intact. Scabs may also be infectious.
“Mpox is usually a self-limiting illness with mild symptoms. Most people fully recover after several weeks, without any treatment. However, severe illness, which can be fatal, is a risk for some people. Mpox treatment is mainly supportive. Antiviral drugs can be used to treat severe disease or given to people at high risk of severe disease.
“Mpox infection whilst pregnant can be dangerous for the baby, leading to loss of the pregnancy, still birth, death in the newborn, or complications for the mother. TravelHealthPro stated: “Mpox can spread when a person comes into close contact with an infected animal human or with contaminated material.
“The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), the respiratory tract or the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth). Mpox does not spread easily between people unless there is close contact.”
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