Our Work
Epidemiological Surveillance of Smallpox B (Mpox)
In France, monkeypox (Mpox) is monitored through the mandatory reporting system coordinated by Santé publique France, which centralizes and analyzes the data, as well as through the characterization of the monkeypox virus by the National Reference Center for Orthopoxviruses.
Rapid case reporting enables Santé publique France to track epidemic trends and case characteristics; It also enables regional health agencies (ARS) to implement the necessary measures to limit the spread of the virus: recommending isolation for cases, contact tracing to identify close contacts, reminding the public of preventive measures, organizing vaccination for at-risk contacts, etc.
The Ministry of Health, Santé publique France, and the Center for Epidemiology and Public Health of the Armed Forces (CESPA) are closely monitoring the evolution of the outbreak at the international level.
To learn more about the international situation:
Mandatory Reporting
Mandatory reporting (DO) involves collecting information that is as comprehensive as possible regarding all cases of certain diseases known as “notifiable diseases” from laboratory technicians and physicians. Physicians and laboratory technicians who suspect or diagnose a notifiable disease must report it immediately and by any appropriate means (phone, fax, email) to the ARS physician in their area of practice.
This reporting allows the ARS physician to implement individual and collective preventive measures around the cases and, if necessary, to initiate investigations to identify the source of the infection and take action to reduce it.
Notification occurs after the initial report and, in most cases, after the diagnosis has been confirmed. Reporting physicians or laboratory scientists notify the ARS physician at their place of practice using a form specific to each disease. Notification enables the analysis and monitoring of the progression of these diseases within the population in order to better target local and national prevention efforts.
Case Definition and Recommended Actions
| Clinical signs suggestive of smallpox B (Mpox) | |
|---|---|
| Suspected case | A patient suspected of having a Monkeypox virus infection is a person presenting with - a skin rash or one or more ulcerations of the genital, anal, or oral mucosa suggestive of Monkeypox (Mpox), - occurring in isolation, or preceded or accompanied by a self-reported or measured fever (>38°C), lymphadenopathy, or odynophagia. |
| Probable case | A probable case of monkeypox virus infection is a person presenting with AND a high-risk contact (definition below) with a confirmed case in France or another country. |
| Confirmed case | A confirmed case of Monkeypox virus infection is a person with : - a positive result on a Monkeypox virus-specific qPCR or RT-PCR test, or a test specific to a clade or subclade of the Monkeypox virus; or- a positive result on a generic qPCR test for the Orthopoxvirus genus, combined with a partial sequencing result specific to the Monkeypox virus. |
Download - Document for healthcare professionals
- Case definition / Guidelines (08/28/24)
Definition of at-risk close contacts
At-risk contact
Any person who has had:
- unprotected direct contact of any duration with the broken skin or body fluids of a symptomatic probable or confirmed case, including sexual intercourse (with or without a condom), medical or paramedical care, or personal hygiene procedures; OR
- indirect physical contact through the sharing of personal hygiene or kitchen items, or textiles (clothing, bath linens, bedding) used by a symptomatic probable or confirmed case.
Contact person with negligible risk
- any person who has had high-risk contact as described above while the contact person was wearing effective protective measures, with the exception of sexual intercourse, which always poses a risk. Effective protective measures against physical contact include, in particular, the use of impermeable gloves (latex, nitrile, rubber);
- any other situation.
Downloads - Documents for reporting the disease
- CERFA form: mandatory reporting of orthopoxviruses (including smallpox B—Mpox)
- Practical guides for the medical management of cases and protective measures to be taken after diagnosis | Coreb
Surveillance partners
- Regional Health Agencies: list and locations: http://www.ars.sante.fr
- The National Reference Center (CNR) for Orthopoxviruses:
Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute (IRBA) 1
Place Valérie André 91220 Bretigny/Orge
Email: irba-cnropv.accueil.fct@def.gouv.fr
Director: Dr. Olivier FERRARIS - Tel.: 06 03 87 58 59
Email: olivier.ferraris@intradef.gouv.fr
Website: https://irba.sante.defense.gouv.fr/cnr/#orthopoxvirus
To learn more about the missions of the National Reference Centers, click here.
Expertise linked to research and supporting decision-makers
Santé publique France maintains close ties with ANRS-MIE regarding scientific monitoring and to discuss priority research initiatives to be implemented. It also collaborates with modeling teams to explore various hypotheses, such as the relative impact of prevention measures among men who have sex with men in 2022.
Santé publique France contributes to the work of health expert bodies, notably by sharing its knowledge and data on the epidemiological situation related to mpox and on vaccination activities: the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS), the Haut Conseil de la Santé Publique (HCSP), etc.
Preventive Measures Against Smallpox B (Mpox)
Communication that adapts to the dynamics of the outbreak and to scientific knowledge
Santé publique France informs the public about appropriate preventive measures to reduce the risk of infection with the monkeypox virus through its website, media campaigns, and the distribution of specific resources in the field.
To raise public awareness about recognizing symptoms and the importance of vaccination, Santé publique France relies on:
- on-the-ground stakeholders;
- the sexosafe.fr website, dedicated to the sexual health of men who have sex with men (MSM);
- the vaccination-info-service.fr website, which provides information on vaccination for healthcare professionals and the general public;
- the creation and distribution of posters and flyers;
- information campaigns (digital, radio, etc.)
Mpox-info-service.fr: A helpline to answer questions about monkeypox
Funded by Santé publique France and operated by SIS Association, the “Mpox Info Service” hotline is available daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the toll-free number 0 801 90 80 69 (calls and services are free, anonymous, and confidential). This service is designed to reinforce prevention messages and protective measures, provide information on symptoms, treatments, and vaccination, and offer advice and referrals to care services.
Learn more at mpox-info-service.fr
Support for Preventive Vaccination Against Smallpox B (Mpox)
In accordance with its mandate, Santé publique France contributes to the smallpox B (Mpox) vaccination strategy in several ways:
contributing to the development and adaptation of vaccination strategies;
assessing vaccination coverage, efficacy, and impact;
managing the vaccine supply chain—from procurement to distribution of vaccine doses—in coordination with the ANSM, as part of a logistics framework established with the Ministry of Health and in support of the government’s overall vaccination strategy;
providing information on vaccination.
Through the Pharmaceutical Agency, Santé publique France manages vaccine inventories on behalf of the government (including orders and storage at its national platform and at its distributors) and organizes vaccine deliveries to various facilities.
Santé publique France also offers two dedicated sections on the vaccination-info-service website: one for the general public and the other for healthcare professionals, to better support them in their practice.
To learn more about vaccination and access to vaccination sites:
