14 new cases of the Mpox virus have been recorded in one week, warns Public Health France.
The spread of the Mpox virus is being monitored very closely in France. In a press release dated August 14, the director of theWHO announced the circulation of a virulent strain of the monkeypox virus or “Monkeypox” or “Mpox” and triggered a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” in the face of the emergence of a new clade (clade 1b) in Africa. A first case has been confirmed in Europe, in Sweden. The French health system is in “state of maximum vigilance” informed Brigitte Autran, president of Covars, on August 17 on France Inter.
“We are ready to face all scenarios and all risks”
“We are ready to face all scenarios and all risks” added Gabriel Attal on the social network X on August 20 before announcing that “232 vaccination sites are already open across the territory. And many more will be available.”
What is it about? What are the risks in France to date?
The Mpox virus is a DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family. This virus is transmitted from animals to humans. It is called “monkey” pox because the virus was discovered in 1958 in laboratory monkeys in Copenhagen but “It is a mistake to say that because it is rather a virus hosted by rodents such as squirrels and large African rats such as the Gambian rat” Professor Jeanne Brugère-Picoux explained to us in a previous interview. The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are two strains of the Mpox virus:
- the Congo strain or Central African strain (the most virulent) named “Clade 1” (the new clade 1b is part of it)
- the West African strain (less virulent) named “Clade 2”
France faced an outbreak of Clade 2 monkeypox in 2022. “Since the 2022 epidemic, the health authorities have had a response strategy for an Mpox epidemic, in terms of surveillance, prevention, rapid diagnosis, management of cases and contacts, and vaccination” says Public Health France. Brigitte Autran confirmed that France is “equipped to face this (new) epidemic with vaccines that will work.” Mpox is highly contagious and requires 3 weeks of isolation once its detection is confirmed. Subtype 1b is known to be more lethal and transmissible. To date, “The risk of infection by a clade I Mpox virus for the European population is considered low” recalls Public Health France. For the moment, in France, no contamination by clade I has been recorded. In the September 3rd bulletinPublic Health France reports a total of 143 cases of mpox since January 1, 2024, including 14 in the last 7 days. “Only clade II monkeypox viruses were detected.” The reported cases all concern adults, 140 men and 3 women.
About 2 weeks of incubation before the first buds
The Mpox virus is transmitted by respiratory droplets from a sick person (spitting, sneezing less than 2 meters away for at least 3 hours), direct skin contact, contact with mucous membranes (mouth, genitals, anus), contact with spots or scabs and through sexual intercourse, with or without penetration. The first symptoms occur after an incubation period of between 5 and 21 days (most often one to two weeks). After a high fever and a feverish state (headaches, muscle pain, etc.), the person develops spots that may resemble chickenpox (with fluid inside) but which come out in a single outbreak. If in doubt, contact your doctor. They may request a PCR test to confirm contamination by Mpox. The disease is generally self-limiting but complications may require hospitalization (between 5 and 10% of cases).
The French health authorities have set up a telephone reception “Monkeypox info service” to answer questions raised by the virus. It is open 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).