What to do for people at risk of a serious form of Monkeypox virus infection

In addition to its opinion of May 24, 2022, the High Council for Public Health recommends, with regard to people at risk of serious forms of Monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection, confirmed cases or contact at risk of infection:

• Hospitalization of people with a severe form of MPXV
• For people with a mild form of MPXV infection: Home isolation is recommended when the patient’s assessment has made it possible to decide that this measure is appropriate, this isolation must be maintained until recovery (disappearance of skin lesions ). Monitoring of clinical signs (temperature, skin condition) can be passive, carried out by the patient himself in the absence of risk factors for a serious form (immunodepression, pregnancy, childhood) with at least a weekly call from the agency Regional Health Authority (ARS). A telephone number will be given to the patient to call in case of aggravation of symptoms. In the presence of risk factors for serious forms, this surveillance will be active by a dedicated medical team (under the coordination of the ARS) using telemedicine, multi-weekly telephone calls or home visits. If the conditions are not met for home care, monitoring in a structure to this even temporary hospitalization for patients with risk factors for a serious form can be considered.
• For contacts of a case of MPXV infection, an assessment should be conducted to quantify the risk of contamination. Contacts must not be placed in eviction; their vaccination must be discussed (HAS recommendations). The HCSP recommends that contact persons who do not present a risk of a serious form carry out self-monitoring (appearance of clinical signs) for 21 days following their last contact. The HCSP recommends that contact persons at risk of a serious form be removed from the home, for the latter monitoring must be carried out by a dedicated medical team, under the coordination of the ARS.
• The HCSP also specifies the action to be taken in cases of MPXV infections occurring in communities of children and adults.