This is the first case in France, which thus becomes the fifth European country affected. According to newspaper information West Francea woman living in Brittany was detected positive for the new strain of monkeypox, at the Rennes Hospital Center (CHU). “The Ministry of Labor and Health” was informed “of a first human case of clade 1b mpox on the national territory, in Brittany. The recommended management measures have been put in place”, confirmed to the AFP the Ministry of Health in a press release. According to West Francewhich does not cite a source, the woman tested positive for mpox “is doing well”.
“The reported case concerns a person who has not traveled to Central Africa, an area in which the different clades of mpox viruses have been actively circulating for several months, including clade 1b,” specifies the press release from the Ministry of Health. “This person, however, was in contact with two people returning from central Africa, investigations are underway to find the origin of the contamination and identify all the contact people,” he adds.
“Low” risk of infection in France
Mpox is characterized by skin lesions, such as pustules, high fever and muscle pain. The sub-variant detected in Brittany, named clade 1b, is considered more contagious and more dangerous and circulates mainly in the adult population. Identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in September 2023, it has since spread throughout the territory before reaching its neighboring countries, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, then others further afield. . Ivory Coast, the Philippines, Sweden and Thailand have all reported the first patients in the summer of 2024. Before France, four countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) had recorded cases of clade mpox 1b since this summer: Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom and Belgium.
The risk of infection by clade I of monkeypox for the general population in France and Europe is considered low by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), further notes the press release from the Ministry of Health. Health. “But sporadic cases, linked to countries with more intense viral circulation, can occur. The occurrence of this case in France was quickly detected thanks to the surveillance system in place.” However, in November, the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to maintain its highest level of alert regarding the epidemic, due to the increase in cases and the countries concerned.
Health authorities reiterate the importance of vaccination for high-risk populations – including men having homosexual relationships with multiple partners, or sex workers – and as a reactive measure for contact cases. People with close ties to Central African countries where the mpox virus is actively circulating can also be vaccinated, authorities further indicate.