“Monkey pox is a rare viral infectious disease caused by Monkeypox virus that is usually seen in forest areas of Central and West Africa. It is transmitted mainly by rodents to humans, then from person to person by droplet or close contact., explains Josselin Vincent, head of the health department and exceptional health situations at the ARS. The epidemic, which has been raging in France since May, has so far affected 3,646 people, the vast majority of whom are adult men, since only 59 women and 9 children have been identified. In Pays de la Loire, 79 cases have been confirmed, including 3 women. “The symptoms are the appearance of skin lesions often accompanied by fever and lymph nodessays Dr Damien Durand, doctor-director of public health for the city of Nantes and Nantes Métropole. Although a few serious cases have been reported, the disease remains mild in the vast majority of cases. The infected person recovers spontaneously between 2 and 4 weeks. »
Preventive vaccination for people at risk
This Wednesday, a center dedicated to preventive vaccination against the disease opens at the Léo Lagrange gymnasium, 5 rue Gaston Michel. Accessible on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., it is open by appointment (inscription via Doctolib), patients at risk of developing the disease, in particular “men who have sex with men with multiple partners, transgender people with multiple partners, people in prostitution”.
Led by the Regional Health Agency and the Prefecture of Loire-Atlantique, with the support of Nantes Métropole and the support of the Nantes University Hospital, the vaccination center relies on 6 health professionals (4 nurses and 2 doctors ) as well as 6 agents from the City of Nantes and Nantes Métropole and representatives of prevention associations. 360 people can be vaccinated per week. “The opening of this center aims to complete the existing vaccination offer, in 6 preventive vaccination centers located in the region which have made it possible to administer more than 2,000 doses of vaccines since July and which maintain their activityindicates the ARS, which insists on the need to adopt a global prevention approach. “It is not only vaccination to protect against infectionconfirms Damien Durand. We can also promote “safer sex”, a way of relating that minimizes the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection. Even though monkeypox is not considered an STI, sexual intercourse is conducive to transmission of the disease. The use of condoms is therefore strongly recommended. People at risk are also encouraged to monitor their skin condition and to consult if in doubt. They can also take advantage of this vaccination opportunity to take stock of other STIs if they wish. »