ISTANBUL: Dutch health authorities have confirmed the country’s first case of a new variant of the mpox virus, Health Minister Jan Anthonie Bruijn announced on Tuesday in a letter to parliament.
The infection, detected on Oct 17, involves a man who had not been vaccinated against mpox and had no recent history of overseas travel, according to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
The patient is currently in isolation, and municipal health services have begun contact tracing, according to a report by public news broadcaster NOS, as cited by Anadolu Ajansi (AA).
Bruijn said the new strain, known as mpox variant 1B, has also been identified in Spain and the United States (US).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control are monitoring the situation.
The RIVM stated that mpox primarily spreads through skin-to-skin contact and can cause painful lesions, fever, muscle aches, and fatigue.
Vaccinations for high-risk individuals will continue until the end of the year, with the government expected to decide later on whether to extend the campaign.
Since 2022, the Netherlands has recorded more than 1,300 mpox cases following a global outbreak that began three years ago. – BERNAMA-ANADOLU
