Monkeypox Cases: Update as of September 27, 2022

Update as of September 27, 2022, following reports of monkeypox cases in France and around the world. Starting this week, updates will be published on a weekly basis. The next update will be released on October 4.

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In early May 2022, cases of monkeypox with no direct link to travel to Central or West Africa—where the virus is present—or to people returning from such trips were reported in Europe and around the world. Since then, the disease has been subject to enhanced surveillance in France and across Europe, based on mandatory reporting, for which the form has been specifically updated.

Situation Update in France

As of September 27, 2022, at 12:00 p.m., 3,999 confirmed cases of Monkeypox infection had been reported in France, representing 56 additional cases since the September 20 update.

The distribution of confirmed cases by region of residence (or by region of reporting when the region of residence is unknown) is shown in Figure 1. The Île-de-France region has the highest number of cases (2,441, or 61.0%), followed by Occitanie (312 cases), Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (271 cases), and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (262 cases); 21 cases reside abroad.

The vast majority of confirmed adult cases recorded to date are male, and 95 cases among those over 15 years of age (2.4%) are female. The proportion of female cases has increased over the past few weeks, reaching 13.8% in Week 36; it stabilized in Week 37 at 10% of reported confirmed cases and 8.3% in Week 38 (unconsolidated data). The number of confirmed cases reported in women remains low (with a maximum of 16 cases reported in week 36), against a backdrop of a decline in the total number of confirmed cases over the past several weeks. These data should therefore be interpreted with caution.

Ten (0.25%) children under the age of 15 were reported as confirmed cases. Confirmed adult cases have a median age of 36 years; 25% of adult cases are under 29 years of age, and 25% are between 43 and 81 years of age.

Among confirmed cases for which information is available, 87 (2.2%) were hospitalized due to their Monkeypox infection; this proportion has remained stable over time.

No deaths have been reported to date.

The distribution of cases by date of symptom onset (when known) is shown in Figure 2. The date of symptom onset for cases ranges from May 7 to September 12, 2022. Due to reporting delays, data from the past few weeks have not been consolidated. The reports received do not always mention the date of symptom onset. As an alternative to this information, the distribution of cases by date of reporting is presented in Figure 3.

These updated data show that the peak in infections occurred in late June/early July and that the number of confirmed cases has decreased since then. However, caution is warranted, as improved knowledge of the disease may reduce healthcare-seeking behavior among better-informed populations. Several other countries, particularly in Europe, have observed similar trends in the number of new cases reported in recent weeks.

Figure 1. Biologically confirmed cases of monkeypox (n=3,978 cases) by region of residence (or by region of reporting when the region of residence is unknown), France, May–September 2022 (data as of September 27, 2022 – 12:00 p.m.)

Figure 1. Cas confirmés biologiquement de variole du singe (n=3 978 cas) par région de résidence (ou par région de signalement lorsque la région de résidence est inconnue), France, mai-septembre 2022 (données au 27/09/2022 – 12h00)

Figure 2. Biologically confirmed cases of monkeypox (n=2,902 cases, number of missing data points: 1,097) by week of symptom onset, France, May–September 2022 (data as of September 27, 2022 – 12:00 p.m.).

Figure 2. Cas confirmés biologiquement de variole du singe (n=2902 cas, nombre de données manquantes : 1097) par semaine de début des symptômes, France, mai-septembre 2022 (données au 27/09/2022 – 12h00).
The data for the past few weeks (in light blue) is not yet fully finalized.

The data for the past week (in light blue) is not yet fully consolidated.

Figure 3. Cas confirmés biologiquement de variole du singe (n= 3 999 cas) par semaine de signalement, France, mai-septembre 2022 (données au 27/09/2022 – 12h00).
The data for the past week (in light blue) are not yet fully finalized. The dip in reported cases observed in week 28 (July 11–17) can be attributed to the July 14 holiday.

Preventive vaccination against monkeypox

Regarding the rollout of the vaccination campaign, as of September 27, 2022, 161,632 doses of the third-generation vaccine had been delivered by the Agency to the territories.

As of September 26, 2022, the total number of doses administered was 107,461 (source: Ministry of Health and Prevention).

Information and Prevention Initiatives

Given what has been observed in Europe regarding the disease, targeted communication was quickly implemented for men who have sex with men (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. Poster, radio, and digital campaigns provide information to the public, complementing on-the-ground initiatives. Since June 17, the digital campaign has generated nearly 951,428 clicks on banners and over 846,054 visits to the Sexosafe website.

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

Prevention efforts 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 8 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

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 supporting prevention messages and protective measures, providing information on symptoms, treatments, and vaccination, and offering advice and referrals to care services.

Since the hotline opened in mid-July, 7,773 calls have been handled by the Monkeypox Info Service.

  • 136 calls were handled in week 38 (compared to 182 in week 37)

  • Although those aged 25–39 remain the largest group of callers (36%), their numbers have dropped significantly compared to week 37 (44%). Conversely, the number of callers over 55 has increased by 8 percentage points compared to week 37 (27% vs. 19% in week 37).

  • Calls regarding psychological and relationship issues continue to rise sharply (38% vs. 29% in Week 37) and primarily concern fears related to the virus and the fear of being infected.

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