This Wednesday, September 14, the ARS announced that a first case of monkeypox was detected on the island, spared by the virus to date. A procedure has been put in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
A first case on the island
After risky contact with a confirmed case, a man back from metropolis tested positive for monkeypox.
As of September 12, 2022, 3,833 cases have been identified in France and no deaths have been reported to date. As required by procedure, the man has been isolated and an epidemiological investigation is underway. His state of health does not inspire concern, according to the ARS.
What to do if you are a carrier of the virus?
The patient is contagious as soon as his first symptoms appear and until the complete healing of the skin lesions. The recommended isolation period is 3 weeks, to avoid any contamination with the surroundings. Some people can develop severe forms. This is the case for young children, pregnant women and immunocompromised people.
How do we know if we are infected?
Monkeypox is transmitted during prolonged contact with a confirmed case: through respiratory droplets, bodily fluids, skin lesions or internal mucous membranes such as the mouth. Transmission can also occur indirectly through objects that the patient has contaminated, such as clothing or sheets.
The period between infection with the virus and the appearance of the first symptoms varies between 5 and 21 days. The first symptoms can vary between fever, headache, muscle pain, difficulty swallowing. They can develop into general fatigue, glands in the neck, upper thigh and finally rashes.