As every Friday now, the Ministry of Health provides an update on monkeypox: until September 21 inclusive, 55 cases have been detected in the country, but no new cases have been reported since last week.
So far, all monkeypox cases detected in Luxembourg have been male (average age 37), the ministry statement said. Three cases were hospitalized for a short time and have since been discharged. The other epidemiological and clinical characteristics of cases detected in Luxembourg are very similar to cases reported at European level.
Since August 16, when the monkeypox vaccination of certain people at risk began at the National Infectious Diseases Service, 628 people have received a first dose and 230 people a second dose. To obtain an appointment, telephone 44 11-31 29. A single dose is given to people who have received a previous vaccination against smallpox with a live 1st or 2nd generation vaccine (people born before 1977 or with a scar typical vaccination in the arm).
The situation in Europe
A total of 24,256 cases of monkeypox have been reported to health authorities European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), representing an increase of 419 cases since the week. last. The majority of cases were between 31 and 40 years old (9,487/24,065 – 39%) and were male (23,684/24,048 – 98.5%). Of the 10,288 male cases with known sexual orientation, 97% identified as men who have sex with men.
Of the cases with known HIV status, 37% (3573/9747) were HIV-positive. The majority of cases had rash (11,400/14,932 – 76.3%) and systemic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, sore throat or headache (10,123/14,932 – 68%). A total of 691 cases were hospitalized (6.1%), including 230 who required clinical care.
Six cases were admitted to the intensive care unit, five of whom died of monkeypox.
To date, three cases are due to occupational exposure. In all three cases, healthcare workers were wearing the recommended personal protective equipment, but were exposed to body fluids while collecting samples.
It is important to protect yourself against the virus and to avoid risky situations in order to limit the spread of the virus, recalls the Health Department in the same press release. Infected people should be isolated and avoid contact with other people, cover lesions and pimples and practice hand hygiene. Among the protective measures, it is advisable to reduce the number of sexual partners and not to share personal effects with infected people or who have been in contact with infected people (bed linen, towel, razor, etc.). ).