This assessment was made from data closed on Monday 12 noon rather than Tuesday 12 noon usually. This date change may have contributed to reducing the number of new cases observed since the last report produced.
In early May 2022, cases of monkey pox (Monkeypox) not directly linked to travel to Central or West Africa where the virus is present, or people returning from travel, were reported in Europe and the world. Since that date, the disease has been the subject, in France and in Europe, of heightened surveillance. To date, 3,547 biologically confirmed cases have been identified in France.
Update in France
As of August 29, 2022 at 12:00 p.m., 3,547 biologically confirmed cases have been identified in France.
The distribution of confirmed cases by region of residence (or by reporting region when the region of residence is unknown) is presented in Figure 1. The Ile-de-France region concentrates the largest number of cases (2,176, or 61% ), followed by Occitanie (293 cases), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (235 cases) and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (222 cases); 20 cases reside abroad.
For 1,042 confirmed cases (29.4%), the region of residence was not known and was replaced by the reporting region. The vast majority of confirmed adult cases identified to date are male except 56 (1.6%) female cases. Nine children under the age of 15 were declared. 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.
Among the cases for which information is available, 68 (3%) were hospitalized because of their Monkeypox virus infection, this proportion remains stable over time.
No deaths have been reported to date.
—
Focus on female cases (as of 08/22/2022)
The main characteristics of 39 confirmed female cases are as follows: their median age is 27 years (extremes between 18 and 61 years). They are mainly domiciled in Ile-de-France. The circumstances of contamination of these women are difficult to understand. Among the 22 women for whom information is available, 5 reported having frequented a person infected with monkeypox in the 3 weeks preceding the onset of symptoms. This contact took place in the family home or the place of living (cohabitation with a member of the family or the spouse). Two women declared a profession likely to expose them to the virus (health professional and hotel trade). For the others, the interview data did not identify a presumed mode of contamination.
—
The distribution of confirmed cases by symptom onset date (when known) is shown in Figure 2. The case symptom onset date ranges from May 7 to August 24, 2022. reporting deadlines, the data for the last few weeks are not consolidated.
The reports received do not always mention the date of onset of the symptoms. As an alternative to this information, the distribution of cases according to their date of reporting is presented in Figure 3.
These data suggest that the peak of contamination took place at the end of June/beginning of July and that the number of confirmed cases has tended to decrease since then. However, we must remain very careful because the summer period could lead to delays in diagnosis and reporting. Similarly, some people may not have sought care. Several other countries, particularly in Europe, are also observing a slowdown or even a decrease in the number of new confirmed cases declared in recent weeks. This trend will have to be confirmed in the weeks to come.
Figure 1. Laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox (n=3,527 cases) by region of residence (or by reporting region when region of residence is unknown), France, May-August 2022 (data as of 08/29/2022 – 12:00 p.m.)
Figure 2. Laboratory-confirmed cases of monkeypox (n= 2,510 cases) by week of onset of symptoms, France, May-August 2022 (data as of 08/29/2022 – 12:00 p.m.).
The data for the last few weeks (in light blue) are not fully consolidated.
Figure 3. Biologically confirmed cases of monkeypox (n= 3,546 cases) by reporting week, France, May-August 2022 (data as of 08/29/2022 – 12:00 p.m.).
Data for the last week (in light blue) is not fully consolidated (the low in reporting seen in week 28 (July 11-17) can be explained by the July 14 holiday).
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. Poster, radio and digital campaigns provide information to people in addition to actions in the field. Since June 17, the digital campaign has generated nearly 780,147 clicks on the banners and more than 700,578 visits to the Sexosafe site.
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 Sante Publique 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
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, anonymous and confidential call and services). 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 line opened in mid-July, 6,867 interviews have been carried out on Monkeypox info service.
- 467 interviews were carried out in week 34 (versus 547 in week 33).
- Steady decline in the number of daily interviews since Wednesday, August 10, 2022.
- 25-39 year olds represent 47% of callers (versus 39% in week 33).
- Ile de France remains the leading region for calls, with a percentage up 13% compared to week 33 (60% vs 47%).
- We note an increase in the percentage of healthcare professionals calling the line (3% vs 1% in week 33).
- 61% of the calls relate to the means of prevention, and relate mainly to vaccination (terms of access to the vaccine, time between 2 doses, in particular in the event of contact with an infected person, etc.).
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 the July 7, 2022 that preventive vaccination be offered to the groups most exposed to the virus.
Regarding the deployment of vaccination, 127,032 doses of 3rd generation vaccine were delivered by the Agency to the territories on 08/29/2022. Deliveries are mostly made on a weekly basis.
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 France:
- Men who have sex with men reporting multiple sex partners.
- Trans people reporting multiple sexual partners.
- sex workers.
- Professionals working in places of sexual consumption.
Vaccination can also be considered on a case-by-case basis for health professionals who have to take care of sick people.
For more information on vaccination and access to vaccination sites :