“52 people have been diagnosed with the monkeypox virus in Brittany since the start of the screening campaign, including eight in Morbihan. The incidence rate is declining nationwide. Let’s not relax the mobilization. Stéphane Mulliez, Director General of the Regional Health Agency (ARS) was in Lorient, this Friday, September 9, to visit the Free Center for Information, Screening and Diagnosis (CeGIDD) specializing in infections by viruses of human immunodeficiency, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections. If infection with the monkeypox virus is almost anecdotal in Brittany, “it is also thanks to the mobilization of CeGIDD”, he underlined.
2 3 66 people vaccinated
In Brittany, 2,366 people were vaccinated against this new virus, including 93 in Lorient. A vaccination campaign aimed at people at risk: men who have sexual relations with men, sex workers and professionals working in places of sexual consumption.
No endemic circulation in Brittany
“There is no endemic circulation of the virus in Brittany”, specified Doctor Jérémie Pasquier, of CeGIDD. “All the infected people were in contact with people in the Paris region. The first cases were detected in July. »
The CeGIDDs, in Lorient, Vannes or Quimper mobilized from the beginning of the summer to contact people at risk and offer them to be vaccinated, according to lists drawn up by COREVIH Bretagne (Regional coordination for the fight against infection to HIV).
Under cover of anonymity
“We had a lot of refusals,” commented Dr. Pasquier. Some people were angry that they were on a risky listing. Even if at CeGIDD, screening, monitoring and vaccination against sexually transmitted diseases are anonymous. This campaign is also carried out in partnership with associations fighting against AIDS such as Aids.
To completely curb the circulation of the virus, the ARS wishes to set up vaccination, which, for the moment, is done in the CeGIDD, in five pharmacies spread over Breton territory. Campaigns will also be organized outside the walls aimed at the most vulnerable audiences, in partnership with the CeGIDDs. “We hope to overcome this virus before Christmas”, specifies Stéphane Mulliez again.