Just over a month following the first case of contamination in France, a person was detected this Sunday as a carrier of the monkeypoxin Corse. The information was communicated this Sunday evening by theregional health agency (ARS). An adult with mild symptoms for a few days was diagnosed with monkeypox, the disease’s other name, and treated by health authorities. “His condition shows no signs of seriousness”specifies the ARS.
No information has filtered on the geographical area in which the patient was located. “This is an adult person with no history of travel to a country where the virus is circulating”adds the ARS, without further details.
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An in-depth epidemiological investigation was implemented by teams from Public Health France and the ARSin connection with the doctor who treated the patient. “People who have been in close contact with this patient have been identified. They have received information from the health authorities on what to do in order to limit the spread of the virus and management measures have been implemented” , says specialists.
As a reminder, the first proven case of monkeypox was detected in France on May 19. On Saturday, the Ile-de-France ARS revealed that a monkeypox infection had been identified in a child who also showed no signs of seriousness.
Last Thursday, at 2 p.m., the latest report from Public Health France reported 330 proven cases on national territory, including 227 in Île-de-France. “To date, as in other European countries, these cases have occurred mainly, but not exclusively, in men who have sex with men, with no direct link to people returning from endemic areas. The majority of case reports multiple sexual partners”specifies Public Health France in its latest report.
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If monkey pox appeared on French territory on May 19, it is actually an endemic disease since the 1970s in ten African countries.
Symptoms of Monkey Pox
Monkeypox is a “cutaneous tropism” disease. Symptoms go away on their own, but can be serious in some cases.
Among the French cases investigated, Public Health France indicates that 77% presented a genito-anal rash, 73% an eruption on another part of the body, 71% a fever, 69% lymphadenopathy.
Typically, within the first 5 days, Monkeypox infection causes:
- fever ;
- headache ;
- adenopathy (swollen lymph nodes);
- back pain ;
- myalgia (muscle pain);
- asthenia (exhaustion).
Within 1-3 days of the onset of fever, the patient develops symptoms of a rash that often begins on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body, including the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and mucous membranes. Skin involvement occurs in a single push. Itching is common. Buttons go through different successive stages.
When the scabs fall off, people are no longer contagious.
In the event of the appearance of symptoms (fever and rash with blisters), it is recommended to contact the Samu Center 15, to isolate yourself while awaiting medical advice and to avoid contact with other people.
Is it a dangerous disease for humans?
The World Health Organization is particularly concerned regarding the risks this virus poses to vulnerable people, including children and pregnant women.
Severe cases are also related to the extent of exposure to the virus, the patient’s medical condition and the severity of complications.
Epidemics have been observed for several years in West and Central Africa, where the disease is endemic. While the mortality rate has varied enormously between epidemics, it has always remained below 10% in all documented cases.
Is there a treatment?
There are no specific treatments or vaccines. In contrast, smallpox vaccination has been proven in the past to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox. However, this vaccine is no longer available to the general public following its manufacture was discontinued following the global eradication of smallpox in the 1980s. The majority of people born following its eradication around 40 years ago are therefore not vaccinated.
