According to the Africa CDC (Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) on July 28, 14,250 cases of mpox, also known as monkey pox, have been recorded in the 10 member states of the African Union. These have resulted in 456 deaths. The case fatality rate is 3.2%. “The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounts for 96.3% of all cases and 97% of all deaths reported this year,” the authorities specify.
Currently, WHO, African Centres, “Local governments and partners are scaling up the response to interrupt disease transmission,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, on the social network X (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday, August 4.
Before adding “but more funding and support are needed for a comprehensive response.” The latter wrote that he plans to “to convene an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee to advise on whether the smallpox outbreak should be declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).”
As a deadlier strain of #mpox spreads to multiple African countries, @WHO, @AfricaCDClocal governments and partners are further scaling up the response to interrupt disease transmission. But more funding and support for a comprehensive response are needed.
I am considering…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) August 4, 2024
What is a public health emergency of international concern?
As a reminder, this is an international legal instrument which “aims to help the international community prevent and respond to serious public health risks that may spread across borders and pose a threat worldwide”writes the WHO on its website.
The goal is therefore to “to prevent, protect against, control and respond to the international spread of disease through public health action proportionate to and limited to the risks it presents to public health, while avoiding unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade”.
Mpox: How “Monkey Pox” Is Transmitted
Mpox, also known as monkeypox or from Monkeypox “is a disease initially present in animals, particularly in rodents in Africa, and which is now circulating in humans; we are therefore talking about an emerging zoonosis”explains the Pasteur Institute. It was first isolated in 1958 in a monkey colony. It is transmitted mainly by:
- contact with infected animals,
- skin lesions or biological fluids,
- contact with contaminated materials.
The Pasteur Institute specifies that it “could perhaps also be done via respiratory droplets from an infected person.”
As explained by the Organization of the Directorate General of Health (DGS) “Infected people are contagious from the moment they appear first symptomsuntil the lesions have completely healed and the scabs have fallen off, usually within 3 weeks”.
To limit the risks of contamination when faced with an infected person, it is advisable to:
- Wash your hands regularly;
- avoid any direct contact (skin to skin) with the infected person or their personal effects (dishes, linen, clothes, etc.);
- wear a surgical mask when near him.
In France, 4,975 cases of Monkeypox were reported in 2022. At the time, “two campaigns on symptom identification and vaccination promotion were broadcast from June 9, 2022 to September 30, 2022”, writes Public Health France. Also, “On May 20, 2022, the High Authority for Health recommended reactive post-exposure vaccination for people in contact with an infected person,” recalls the Vaccination info service website.
According to the Vaccination info service website, “post-exposure vaccination, i.e. for people in a situation of risky contact with an infected person”, as well as for:
- men who have sex with men (MSM) and have multiple sexual partners;
- trans people with multiple sexual partners;
- sex workers;
- professionals in places of sexual consumption, whatever the status of these places.
Sources :
- Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus – X (Twitter) 04/09/2024
- Mpox Situation in Africa – Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (28/09/2024)
- What are the International Health Regulations and Emergency Committees? – WHO
- Mpox (monkeypox) Pasteur Institute
- “Monkeypox” summary sheet for healthcare professionals – Organization of the Directorate General of Health (DGS) – August 5, 2022
- Mpox epidemic in France: epidemiological characteristics and sexual behavior of cases over 15 years old, 2022 – Public Health France (01/15/2024)
- Monkeypox – vaccination info service
