Six individuals have been diagnosed with monkeypox in Iceland. All middle aged men. Four infections are traced to other countries. No one is seriously ill and no one has ever been hospitalised.

Apapox is still widely distributed in many countries. Approximately 6,000 people have been diagnosed in over 30 countries. Most people diagnosed are men in middle age and most have been infected through sexual contact. Severe illness is rare.

Arrival of a vaccine against monkeypox to Iceland is still pending, but expected in the coming weeks. The use of the vaccine has not been definitively decided, but it will likely be available for individuals in high-risk groups and those who are considered to be seriously ill after being exposed. Similarly, antiviral drugs against monkeypox have not yet been delivered and it is not known when they are expected.

The Chief Epidemiologist