Overview
- The Justice Ministry confirmed a single Mpox (monkeypox) infection in Justizanstalt Josefstadt and said the patient has been placed in a separate cell and is improving.
- Prison management, the facility’s medical head and staff immediately tested and separated close contacts and imposed an FFP2 mask requirement for affected inmates and employees.
- All identified contacts have been examined and show no signs of Mpox so far, and authorities say no additional measures are currently required.
- Josefstadt is operating well above its design capacity of about 800 inmates, which officials say raises the risk of spread in congregate settings and explains the rapid containment steps taken.
- Mpox mainly spreads through close skin-to-skin contact or contact with contaminated items, is reportable in Austria, and 52 cases have been recorded nationally this year.