Cases of monkey pox (Monkeypox) not directly linked to travel to Central or West Africa or people returning from travel have been reported in Europe and around the world since the beginning of May 2022. Since this date , the epidemic is affecting a growing number of countries and the disease is the subject, in France and in Europe, of heightened surveillance.
The Director General of the WHO announced on Saturday July 23 that he was declaring a public health emergency of international concern regarding this epidemic. This is the organization’s highest level of alert to trigger a series of actions by member countries.
In France, orthopoxvirus infections are subject to long-term monitoring through the mandatory notification system. Given the current epidemic, surveillance of these infections has been reinforced by Public Health France and information and alert messages have been sent to healthcare professionals and the populations most at risk.
Update in France
National situation on 08/11/2022 at 12 p.m.
As of 11 August 2022 at 12:00 p.m., 2,673 confirmed cases have been identified in France: 895 cases reside in Ile-de-France, 236 in Occitanie, 205 in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, 162 in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, 117 in Hauts-de-France, 104 in New Aquitaine, 68 in Grand Est, 43 in Pays-de-la-Loire, 30 in Normandy, 27 in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 26 in Brittany, 24 in Centre-Val de Loire, 2 in Corsica, 2 in Martinique, 1 in Guadeloupe and 1 in Saint-Martin. For 720 cases, the region of residence was not given, and 10 cases reside abroad.
Adult cases have a median age of 36; 25% of adult cases are under 30 years old and 25% are 43 to 77 years old. Of all the cases, 28 are adult females and 2 are children.
Information and prevention actions
Given what has been observed in Europe on the disease, targeted communication was quickly implemented towards MSM people. The website sexosafe.fr, dedicated to the sexuality of MSM people, is regularly updated with a summary of knowledge on the subject and prevention measures. The messages recalling the symptoms and what to do in the event of symptoms were relayed via a digital campaign. Since June 17, the digital campaign has generated nearly 639,165 clicks on the banners and more than 512,388 visits to the Sexosafe site.
This device was supplemented with a poster campaign in places of conviviality with nearly 1,350 poster spaces. And for a few weeks by broadcasting spots on community radios. At the same time, posters, flyers and advice sheets were distributed thanks to associations, ARS and Sexosafe teams present in the field, as part of pride marches and in places where MSM meet. To date, 2,842 posters and 94,500 flyers have been ordered.
A digital campaign on preventive vaccination began on July 25 and tools for the field will also be made available in the coming days, following the publication of theopinion of the High Authority of Health of July 7th.
All information on vaccination is updated weekly on the page intended for the General public and that intended for health professionals (accessible without login) of the site Vaccination-info-service.
Prevention actions are continuously adapted to the evolution of the situation and the state of knowledge.
To facilitate access to information for vulnerable people in precarious situations, a pictorial tool, translated into 6 languages, developed with professionals working with these people is available on Public Health France.
The MOBCO newsletter n°7 compiled with actors in the field brings together a series of questions/answers on the subject of Monkeypox/monkey pox. It is aimed at professionals or volunteers in contact with people in precarious situations.
In France, long-term monitoring of monkeypox through the mandatory notification system is reinforced and information and alert messages are sent to health professionals. Exchanges are also continuing with other European countries, the WHO and the ECDC.
Monkeypox info service: a listening device to answer questions about monkeypox
Since Wednesday, July 13, a listening device has been open to answer questions raised by monkeypox. Subsidized by Public Health France and carried by SIS Association, the “Monkeypox info service” telephone line is accessible every day from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., on the toll-free number 0 801 90 80 69 (free call and services, anonymous and confidential). This device is in charge of accompanying prevention messages and protective measures, of providing information on symptoms, treatments and vaccination, of advising and directing towards the care devices.
Since the opening of the line, 5,510 interviews were made on Monkeypox info service.
Preventive vaccination against monkeypox
Faced with the spread of the Monkeypox virus (monkey pox), the High Authority for Health, seized by the Directorate General for Health, recommended in its opinion of July 7, 2022 that preventive vaccination be offered to the groups most exposed to the virus.
Regarding the deployment of vaccination, 56,525 doses of 3rd generation vaccine were delivered by the Agency to the territories on 11/08/2022.
Since July 11, 2022, in addition to people who have had risky contact with a sick person, people falling within the indications retained by the HAS can make an appointment to be vaccinated throughout the country.
For more information on vaccination and access to vaccination sites:
What is monkey pox (Monkeypox)?
Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by an Orthopoxvirus. This zoonotic disease is usually transmitted to humans in forest areas of Central and West Africa by wild rodents or primates, but human-to-human transmission is also possible, particularly within the family home or in the care setting.
How is it transmitted?
The monkeypox virus can be transmitted by direct contact with lesions on the skin or mucous membranes of a sick person, as well as by droplets (saliva, sneezing, sputter, etc.). Sexual intercourse, with or without penetration, meets these conditions for contamination, and having several partners increases the risk of being exposed to the virus. In particular, direct contact with damaged skin during sexual intercourse facilitates transmission.
Contamination can also occur through contact with the patient’s environment (bedding, clothing, dishes, bath linen, etc.). It is therefore important that the patients observe isolation throughout the duration of the disease (until the disappearance of the last scabs, most often 3 weeks).
In Central or West Africa, humans can also become infected through contact with animals, wild or in captivity, dead or alive, such as rodents or monkeys.
What are the symptoms ?
Infection with monkeypox virus can cause a blistering rash, made up of fluid-filled blisters that progress to drying, crusting and then scarring. Itching may occur. The vesicles are more concentrated on the face, in the ano-genital area, the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, can be present but also on the trunk and the limbs. The mucous membranes are also affected, in the mouth and the genital area. This rash can be accompanied by fever, headache, body aches and asthenia. Lymph nodes may be swollen and painful, under the jaw, in the neck or in the fold of the groin. Sore throats are also reported.
The incubation of the disease can range from 5 to 21 days. The fever phase lasts about 1 to 3 days. The disease most often heals spontaneously, after 2 to 3 weeks but sometimes 4 weeks.
Is monkeypox serious?
The disease is more severe in children and in immunocompromised people. It can be complicated by superinfection of skin lesions or by respiratory, digestive, ophthalmological or neurological disorders.
In Europe, 2 deaths (Spain) have been reported to date.
