Spain announces first deaths

For the first time since the beginning of the epidemic, and following the announcement of the first death outside Africa, in Brazil, monkeypox killed outside Africa. The disease has caused two deaths in Spain this week, as reported by the Spanish Ministry of Health this Saturday, July 30. Deaths occurred 24 hours apart. One of the victims was a 31-year-old man. According to the Andalusian regional health ministry, he suffered from encephalitis potentially linked to monkeypox. Encephalitis refers to inflammation of the brain. Very serious, it is often the complication of a first infection. “The samples taken during the autopsy, which are being studied, will make it possible to determine whether the cause of death was meningoencephalitis or another pathology,” the ministry said. No details have yet been given on the second victim, except that he too would be a young man and that studies are underway to have more “epidemiological information”.

Spain particularly affected

The country of the Iberian Peninsula is one of the countries most affected by monkeypox. In addition to the two deaths, the Spanish government recorded on Saturday July 30 nearly 4,300 cases, including 120 hospitalizations. Spain is preceded by the United States (4,900 cases) and followed by the United Kingdom (2,367). France, meanwhile, says it has detected 1,837 cases so far. A total of 8 deaths have been recorded worldwide since May. This figure might continue to climb, according to the World Health Organization.

“Given the continued spread of monkeypox in Europe, we expect more deaths,” said Catherine Smallwood, WHO Europe’s emergency manager, in a statement. “The reporting of monkeypox-related deaths does not change our assessment of the outbreak in Europe. We know that although self-limiting in most cases, monkeypox can lead to serious complications,” she concluded.

On July 23, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued the highest level of alert, the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (USPPI), to step up the fight once morest monkeypox. According to the WHO, more than 18,000 cases have been detected worldwide since the beginning of May, outside endemic areas in Africa. The disease has been reported in 78 countries, 70% of cases are concentrated in Europe and 25% in the Americas, said Wednesday the director of the Organization, Tedros Adhan om Ghebreyesus. Its early symptoms include a high fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a chickenpox-like rash.

No vaccines for everyone

But for the moment, as the WHO points out, there are no vaccines for everyone and therefore recommends giving priority to those most at risk, to the sick, as well as to caregivers and to researchers. The WHO triggered the highest level of alert, the public health emergency of international concern, on July 23 to step up the fight once morest monkeypox.

The objective must be “to quickly interrupt the transmission of the virus in Europe and put a stop to this epidemic”, insists Ms. Smallwood, who however underlines that in most cases the disease is cured by itself. , without requiring treatment. “The reporting of monkeypox-related deaths does not change our assessment of the outbreak in Europe. We know that although self-limiting in most cases, monkeypox can lead to serious complications,” she noted.