Those infected with the monkey pox virus must be in isolation for 21 days. Sensoa is preparing information for men who have sex with men, after the confirmed infections were linked to the Antwerp fetish festival Darklands. The organization itself makes this known on its Facebook page.
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The three confirmed cases of monkey pox virus are linked to the Antwerp fetish festival Darklands. The organization itself makes this known via Facebook. They ask visitors to be vigilant for possible symptoms, such as flu-like complaints and blisters on the skin. The organization assumes that the virus had traveled with foreign festival-goers. Every year, more than 10,000 visitors from home and abroad come, mainly men. The festival took place from Wednesday 4 May to Monday 9 May at the Waagnatie.
It was previously known that two confirmed cases were linked to the same party. The third infection probably took place in the partner of one of them. He showed symptoms, but the virus has not yet been officially diagnosed. ‘This is done via PCR testing’, says Patrick Smits, infectious disease control doctor at the Agency for Care and Health.
21 days isolation
Infected persons must be in isolation for 21 days. The virus has an incubation period of 5 to 21 days. It usually starts mildly with feverish symptoms. Subsequently, a skin rash can develop, often on the face, but also genitally. The rash progresses to blisters. The infected person is especially contagious during that period. Most people recover within a few weeks.
High-risk contacts do not have to be in isolation, but must monitor themselves whether they develop symptoms. This includes roommates, sexual partners, people with whom there has been close contact and health workers who have cared for the patient. Furthermore, the Risk Assessment Group also recommends high-risk contacts to be extra careful with people with reduced immunity, pregnant women and children.
Anyone showing symptoms should go to the hospital emergency department. After triage, a possible infection is referred to a hospital with more expertise.
Sexually Transmitted? ‘Not known’
The virus originates from West Africa, where outbreaks sometimes occur with hundreds of cases. In Europe, at this stage, it is mainly circulating among men who have sex with men. The virus is transmitted after close contact with an infected person, including through drops of saliva. It can also be passed on through contact with clothing or bedding that has been used by an infected person.
For now, the virus is not known as an STD. ‘It is unclear whether the virus is also in vaginal fluid or semen. It is one of the research questions that we have formulated before, but that has not yet been clarified,” Isabel Brosius, an infectious disease researcher physician at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, told this newspaper. ‘Even though monkey pox is not a disease that is specifically transmitted through semen or vaginal fluid. Perhaps it is more the intense skin contact during sex that leads to infection.’
Sensoa sensitizes
The Agency for Care and Health calls in Sensoa, the Flemish expertise center for sexual health, to further raise awareness. Sensoa has confirmed to our editors that it has received a communiqué and is preparing communication that will be distributed, among other things, via Facebook groups. People who have different sexual contacts are asked to be extra vigilant.
