Update in France
As of 09/22/2022 at 12 p.m., 3,970 confirmed cases of indigenous infections by the Monkeypox virus have been identified in France, i.e. 72 additional cases since the assessment of September 15. The breakdown of cases by region of residence (or by reporting region when the region of residence is unknown) is as follows: 2,423 in Ile-de-France, 312 in Occitanie, 269 in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, 261 in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, 191 in Hauts-de-France, 138 in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 95 in Pays de la Loire, 94 in Grand Est, 45 in Normandy, 40 in Centre-Val de Loire, 37 in Brittany, 29 in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 7 in Martinique, 5 in Corsica. Finally, 1 case was notified in Guadeloupe, Reunion, Mayotte and Saint-Martin. 20 cases reside abroad.
The vast majority of confirmed adult cases identified to date are male and 94 cases (2.4%) are female. 10 children under 15 were declared. 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.
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. Biologically confirmed cases of monkeypox (n=2,869 cases, number of missing data: 1,101) by week of onset of symptoms, France, May-September 2022 (data as of 09/22/2022 – 12:00 p.m.).
The data for the last few weeks (in light blue) are not fully consolidated.
Figure 2. Biologically confirmed cases of monkeypox (n=3,970 cases) by reporting week, France, May-September 2022 (data as of 09/22/2022 – 12:00 p.m.).
The data for the last week (in light blue) is not fully consolidated.
Preventive vaccination against monkeypox
Regarding the deployment of vaccination, as of September 22, 2022, 161,632 doses of 3rd generation vaccine have been delivered by the Agency to the territories.
As of September 21, 2022, the total number of doses administered is 102,446 (source: Ministry of Health and Prevention).
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 940,654 clicks on the banners and more than 832,458 visits to the Sexosafe site.
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 8 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
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, 7,694 interviews have been carried out on Monkeypox info service.
