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.
Information : evolution of the Cerfa compulsory declaration form and of the conduct to be adopted in Monkeypox cases (find out more)
Update in France
As of 08/09/2022 at 12 p.m., 3,785 confirmed cases of indigenous infections by the Monkeypox virus have been identified in France. The breakdown of cases by region of residence (or by reporting region when the region of residence is unknown) is as follows: 2,311 in Ile-de-France, 305 in Occitanie, 257 in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, 244 in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, 182 in Hauts-de-France, 135 in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 92 in Grand Est, 80 in Pays de la Loire, 44 in Normandy, 37 in Centre-Val de Loire, 37 in Brittany, 29 in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 7 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 and 73 cases (1.9%) are female. Nine children under the age of 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. Confirmed cases of monkeypox (n=2,693 cases, number of missing data: 1,092) by week of onset of symptoms, France, May-September 2022 (data as of 08/09/2022 – 12:00 p.m.).
The data for the last few weeks (in light blue) are not fully consolidated.
Figure 2. Confirmed cases of monkeypox (n=3,785 cases) by reporting week, France, May-September 2022 (data as of 08/09/2022 – 12:00 p.m.).
The data for the last week (in light blue) 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 sexosafe.fr site, dedicated to the sexuality of MSM people, is regularly updated with a summary of knowledge on the subject and preventive 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 862,335 banner clicks and over 770,623 site visits sexosafe.
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 Santé 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, 7,332 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 the July 7, 2022 that preventive vaccination be offered to the groups most exposed to the virus.
Regarding the deployment of vaccination, as of September 8, 2022, 152,732 doses of 3rd generation vaccine had been delivered by the Agency to the territories. Deliveries are mostly made on a weekly basis.
As of September 7, 2022, the total number of doses administered is 84,740 (source: Ministry of Health and Prevention).
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 sex 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 :
Information: evolution of the Cerfa compulsory declaration form and the conduct to be adopted in Monkeypox cases
Cerfa form
Monkey pox is a notifiable disease (orthopoxviroses) and must be reported by doctors and heads of medical biology laboratories to the regional health agency. To accommodate the current Monkeypox outbreak and surveillance needs, the Cerfa compulsory declaration form evolved.
The form now includes:
- the reasons and possible complications that led to hospitalization
- the nature of the link with the index case(s): family, friend, professional, healthcare environment or even sexual
- any history of preventive vaccination
- any history of infection
- TROD and serology in biological confirmation techniques, as an anticipation
To behave
With the evolution of the data collected within the framework of the mandatory declaration, the action to be taken around the cases of Monkeypox of Public Health France and the Ministry of Health and Prevention incorporates the following new features:
- review of the conduct to be adopted for contacts at risk
- precision on the investigations around female and pediatric cases, and cases occurring in a community including vulnerable people or people at risk of serious forms
- evolution of case data collection