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German health authorities have recommended an isolation period of at least 21 days for those infected with monkeypox, after the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that about 250 cases have recently been detected in 16 countries, DPA reported.

Health Minister Karl Lauterbach argued that the recommendation was "a harsh and swift response" in the early stages of the epidemic.

The contacts must also be quarantined for 21 days, he said, adding that he had ordered about 40,000 doses of vaccine.

Lauterbach explained that vaccination could help reduce the spread of monkeypox by being offered to contact persons and that it was a technique known as "circular vaccination". 

First case of monkeypox in Slovenia

At the same time, the British health authorities announced that more than 1,000 contact persons infected with monkeypox had been vaccinated with Imvanex.

Several provinces in Germany have reported infections with the disease, and the contacts of those infected are currently being monitored.

Lauterbach pointed out that monkeypox "is not the beginning of a new pandemic" and that there are well-known methods to limit this pathogen.

Slovenia and the Czech Republic today announced their first cases of infections.

In Geneva, WHO expert Rosamund Lewis said the spread of monkeypox could be controlled.

The existing outbreak is worrying, but the risk to humans is low, she explained.

Most of the reported infections worldwide are related to men who have had sexual intercourse with each other.

Unlike coronavirus, monkeypox infection is very rare by airborne droplets.

She also has mild symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches and skin rashes.

However, it can be severe, and in some cases even fatal. 

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