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.
As of September 1, 3,646 biologically confirmed cases have been identified in France. Today, Public Health France is enriching the regional epidemiological points concerned with analyzes including departmental data.
Update in France
National situation on 09/01/2022 at 12 p.m.
As of 09/01/2022 at 12 p.m., 3,646 confirmed cases have been identified in France. The distribution of cases by region of residence (or by reporting region when the region of residence is unknown) is as follows: 2,236 in Île-de-France, 299 in Occitanie, 237 in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, 231 in Provence -Alpes-Côte d’Azur, 174 in Hauts-de-France, 132 in New Aquitaine, 92 in Grand Est, 76 in Pays de la Loire, 39 in Normandy, 36 in Centre-Val de Loire, 34 in Brittany , 29 in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 6 in Martinique. For Corsica, Guadeloupe, Mayotte and Saint-Martin, each of these regions had less than 5 cases. 20 cases reside abroad.
The vast majority of confirmed adult cases identified to date are male except 59 (1.6%) female cases. The number of cases reported in women is low (maximum 12 cases reported in week 34) but the proportion of confirmed female cases has increased over the last few weeks. Among the confirmed cases declared in week 34 (unconsolidated data) 7.5% are women (vs. 5.3% in week 33 and 2.9% in week 32). These data relate to a low number of cases, in a context of a decrease in the total number of confirmed cases for several weeks, they must therefore be interpreted with caution. Moreover, a difference in the use of biological diagnosis between men and women cannot be excluded. Adult cases have a median age of 36; 25% of adult cases are under 29 years old and 25% are 43 to 81 years old. Nine children under the age of 15 were declared.
The distribution of cases according to the date of onset of symptoms (when this is known) is presented in figure 1. Given the reporting delays, 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 2.
Figure 1. Confirmed monkeypox cases (n=2,577 cases, number of missing data = 1,069) by week of onset of symptoms, France, May-August 2022 (data as of 09/01/2022 – 12:00 p.m.).
The data for the last few weeks is not fully consolidated.
Figure 2. Confirmed monkeypox cases (n=3,645 cases, missing data = 1) by reporting week, France, May-August 2022 (data as of 01/09/2022 – 12:00 p.m.).
Data for the last week is not fully consolidated.
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 805,106 clicks on the banners and more than 715,681 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, 7,049 interviews have been carried out 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, 145,732 doses of 3rd generation vaccine were delivered by the Agency to the territories as of 09/01/2022. 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 :
