A fourth person has been diagnosed with the monkeypox virus in Belgium, virologist Marc Van Ranst said on Twitter on Saturday. This is a man from the province of Liège. The World Health Organization expects more cases to emerge now that countries are being further checked for the presence of the virus. According to the WHO, it has now been identified in at least 12 countries where it is not usually present. The organization has 92 known cases and 28 other suspects.
According to Marc Van Ranst, the 4th contamination observed in Belgium, like the three others, has a link with the international gay festival Darklands, which took place in Antwerp at the beginning of the month. “It is important that everyone who attended the Darklands festival remains vigilant for any symptoms,” he warns. “In case of smallpox lesions, a sample can be taken in an emergency department, and close contact with other people should be avoided.”
The magnitude of the epidemic is becoming “increasingly clear”estimated the virologist, still on Twitter. “This is unheard of before with monkeypox viruses.”
According to the WHO, people who have been in close contact with infected people already showing symptoms are most at risk. These are, for example, first aiders. They must be adequately informed, insists the UN organization, in order to stop the epidemic. She also indicates that she will provide additional advice in a few days. In addition to Belgium, the various countries where the virus has been detected are the Netherlands, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Canada, the States USA and Australia. But Israel and Switzerland have also reported cases. According to the WHO, a relatively large number of patients are men who have sex with men. Monkeypox virus is normally present only in West and Central Africa.
