As of August 16, 2022, in 43 countries and areas in the European region, a total of 19,429 cases of monkeypox have been reported to health authorities. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which represents an increase of 1,532 cases since last week[1].
The majority of cases were between 31 and 40 years old (7,602/18,917 – 40%) and were men (16,065/16,241 – 98.9%). Of the cases with known HIV status, 38% (2,749/7,322) were HIV positive. The majority of cases presented with rash (8,937/11,587 – 77.1%) and systemic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, sore throat or headache (7,495/11,587 – 65%) . 505 cases were hospitalized (5.8%), including 179 who required clinical care. Three cases were admitted to the intensive care unit, including one case who was admitted for reasons other than monkeypox virus infection. The other two cases admitted to intensive care died of monkeypox. Some (57) cases were reported as health care workers, all exposed outside of work.
Until August 17, 2022 inclusive, 45 cases of monkeypox have been detected in Luxembourg, which represents an increase of 4 cases since last week. So far all the cases detected are male, with an average age of 38 years. Two cases were hospitalized for a short time and have meanwhile been discharged from hospital. The other epidemiological and clinical characteristics of cases detected in Luxembourg are very similar to cases reported at European level1.
The Department of Health recalls that it is important to protect yourself against the virus and to avoid risky situations in order to limit the spread of the virus. Infected people should be isolated and avoid contact with other people, cover lesions and pimples and practice hand hygiene. Among the protective measures, it is advisable to reduce the number of sexual partners and not to share personal effects with infected people or who have been in contact with infected people (bed linen, towel, razor, etc.) .
[1] https://monkeypoxreport.ecdc.europa.eu/
Communicated by the Ministry of Health