Faced with the resurgence of the Mpox virus in Central Africa, theWorld Health Organization (WHO) triggered the state of ” public health emergency of international concern ».
“No epidemic threat at present”
In France, vaccination is encouraged among at-risk populations, even if there is ” no epidemic threat at present “, according to Simon Sunder, infectious disease specialist and head of the free information, screening and diagnostic center in Niort.
Since 2022, in Deux-Sèvres, the vaccination centers of Niort, Bressuire and Thouars have welcomed at-risk populations. These include men and trans people who have sex with men or multiple partners, sex workers, healthcare workers and people who are immunocompromised. These people must be identified as at risk to receive the vaccine. “, specifies the infectious disease specialist.
The regional health agency (ARS) recalls that Mpox is transmitted by respiratory droplets, by contact with skin lesions, bodily fluids or infected mucous membranes. Contamination can also occur by touching contaminated objects or textiles. Rashes on the face, genital area, palms of the hands and feet, fevers and fatigue… The symptoms are numerous. In its severe forms, it can cause digestive problems, neurological or pulmonary complications. Recovery takes between two and four weeks.
Anticipating the epidemic rebound
The epidemic began in 2022 in West Africa. It spread to Europe but ” calmed down very quickly “, according to Simon Sunder: “ Communication campaigns enabled those concerned to get vaccinated, which slowed the spread of the virus. “The Ministry of Health counted less than thirty cases of clade 2 per month in France, between January and June 2024.
To date, the Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded 16,700 cases since the beginning of the year. Two others have been recorded outside Africa, in Sweden and Thailand. France has therefore raised its level of vigilance. Simon Sunder states: ” We are organizing the vaccine supply, reminding at-risk populations of the isolation and protection procedures… »
“Mpox is not the new Covid”
The new strain of the virus, clade 1b, is more ” virulent » than other forms of Mpox. « It presents a novelty: human-to-human transmission, and not just animal-to-human transmission. “, informs Simon Sunder. However, the vaccination recommendations have not yet been extended to the entire population. ” They may be revised for people returning from certain Central African countries or who were vaccinated in 2022. ” asks the infectious disease specialist.
Like the WHO, which states that “ Mpox is not the new Covid “, Simon Sunder is keen to reassure: “ The virus needs close proximity to spread. Whereas Covid could affect a lot of people at once without there necessarily having been close contact. »
Even though he calls for vigilance, he believes that health recommendations will evolve as the epidemic progresses.
