Monkeypox Cases: Update as of August 11, 2022

Update as of August 11, 2022, following reports of monkeypox cases in France and around the world.

Smallpox B (Mpox)

thematic dossier

Smallpox B (Mpox), formerly known as monkeypox, is a rare viral infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus and transmitted primarily from rodents to humans, and then from person to person,...

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In this article

Cases of monkeypox with no direct link to travel to Central or West Africa or to people returning from travel have been reported in Europe and around the world since early May 2022. Since then, the outbreak has spread to a growing number of countries, and the disease is being subject to enhanced surveillance in France and across Europe.

On Saturday, July 23, the WHO Director-General announced that he was declaring this outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This is the organization’s highest alert level, triggering a series of actions by member states.

In France, orthopoxvirus infections are subject to ongoing surveillance through the mandatory reporting system. Given the ongoing outbreak, surveillance of these infections has been strengthened by Santé publique France, and information and alert messages have been sent to healthcare professionals and the populations most at risk.

Situation Update in France

National Situation as of August 11, 2022, at 12:00 p.m.

As of August 11, 2022, at 12:00 p.m., 2,673 confirmed cases had been recorded in France: 895 cases in Île-de-France, 236 in Occitanie, 205 in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, 162 in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, 117 in Hauts-de-France, 104 in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 68 in Grand Est, 43 in Pays-de-la-Loire, 30 in Normandy, 27 in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 26 in Brittany, 24 in Centre-Val de Loire, 2 in Corsica, 2 in Martinique, 1 in Guadeloupe, and 1 in Saint Martin. For 720 cases, the region of residence was not reported, and 10 cases reside abroad.

Adult cases have a median age of 36; 25% of adult cases are under 30 years old, and 25% are between 43 and 77 years old. Among all cases, 28 are adult females and 2 are children.

Information and Prevention Initiatives

Given what has been observed in Europe regarding the disease, targeted communication was quickly implemented for MSM. The website sexosafe.fr, dedicated to the sexual health of MSM, is regularly updated with a summary of current knowledge on the subject and prevention measures. Messages reminding people of the symptoms and what to do if symptoms appear were shared through a digital campaign. Since June 17, the digital campaign has generated nearly 639,165 clicks on banners and over 512,388 visits to the Sexosafe website.

This initiative was supplemented by a poster campaign in social gathering places, with nearly 1,350 display locations. And for the past few weeks, it has included the broadcast of spots on community radio stations. At the same time, posters, flyers, and advice sheets have been distributed through community organizations, Regional Health Agencies (ARS), and Sexosafe teams on the ground, during Pride parades, and in MSM social spaces. To date, 2,842 posters and 94,500 flyers have been ordered.

A digital campaign on preventive vaccination began on July 25, and tools for field use will also be made available in the coming days, following the publication of the Haute Autorité de Santé’s advisory on July 7.

All information on vaccination is updated weekly on the pages for the general public and for healthcare professionals (accessible without a login) on the Vaccination-info-service website.

Prevention measures are continuously adapted to the evolving situation and the current state of knowledge.

To facilitate access to information for vulnerable people in precarious situations, a visual tool, translated into 6 languages and developed with professionals working with these individuals, is available on Santé publique France.

The MOBCO Newsletter No. 7, developed in collaboration with frontline workers, compiles a series of questions and answers on the topic of monkeypox. It is intended for professionals or volunteers in contact with people in precarious situations.

In France, ongoing surveillance of monkeypox through the mandatory reporting system has been strengthened, and information and alert messages are being sent to healthcare professionals. Discussions are also continuing with other European countries, the WHO, and the ECDC.

Monkeypox Info Service: A Helpline to Answer Questions About Monkeypox

Since Wednesday, July 13, a helpline has been available to answer questions about monkeypox. Funded by Santé publique France and operated by SIS Association, the “Monkeypox Info Service” hotline is available daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the toll-free number 0 801 90 80 69 (free calls and services; anonymous and confidential). This service is responsible for promoting prevention messages and protective measures, providing information on symptoms, treatments, and vaccination, and offering advice and referrals to care services.
Since the hotline opened, 5,510 calls have been handled by the Monkeypox Info Service.

Preventive Vaccination Against Monkeypox

In response to the spread of the Monkeypox virus, the High Authority for Health, following a referral from the Directorate General for Health, recommended in its opinion dated July 7, 2022, that preventive vaccination be offered to groups most at risk of exposure to the virus.

Regarding the rollout of the vaccination, 56,525 doses of the third-generation vaccine had been delivered by the Agency to the regions as of August 11, 2022.

Since July 11, 2022, in addition to individuals who have had high-risk contact with an infected person, individuals meeting the criteria established by the HAS may schedule an appointment to get vaccinated throughout the country.

To learn more about vaccination and access to vaccination sites:

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by an Orthopoxvirus. This zoonotic disease is usually transmitted to humans in the forested areas of Central and West Africa by wild rodents or primates, but human-to-human transmission is also possible, particularly within households or in healthcare settings.

How is it transmitted?

The monkeypox virus can be transmitted through direct contact with skin lesions or mucous membranes of an infected person, as well as through droplets (saliva, sneezing, spittle, etc.). Sexual intercourse, with or without penetration, meets these conditions for transmission, and having multiple partners increases the risk of exposure to the virus. In particular, direct contact with broken skin during sexual intercourse facilitates transmission.

Transmission can also occur through contact with the infected person’s environment (bedding, clothing, dishes, bath towels, etc.). It is therefore important for infected individuals to remain in isolation for the entire duration of the illness (until the last scabs have fallen off, usually 3 weeks).

In Central or West Africa, humans can also become infected through contact with animals—wild or captive, dead or alive—such as rodents or monkeys.

What are the symptoms?

Infection with the monkeypox virus can cause a vesicular rash, consisting of fluid-filled blisters that dry out, form scabs, and eventually heal. Itching may occur. The blisters tend to concentrate on the face, the anogenital area, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet, though they may also appear on the trunk and limbs. The mucous membranes are also affected, particularly in the mouth and genital region. This rash may be accompanied by fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue. Lymph nodes may be swollen and tender under the jaw, in the neck, or in the groin. Sore throat has also been reported.

The incubation period for the disease can range from 5 to 21 days. The fever phase lasts about 1 to 3 days. The disease usually resolves spontaneously after 2 to 3 weeks, but sometimes takes up to 4 weeks.

Is monkeypox serious?

The disease is more severe in children and in immunocompromised individuals. It can lead to complications such as secondary infections of the skin lesions or respiratory, digestive, ophthalmological, or neurological involvement.

In Europe, 2 deaths (in Spain) have been reported to date.

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