The suspected French case of monkey pox has been identified in Île-de-France and investigations are underway to confirm whether or not contamination by this virus, and to try to understand the origin of this contamination. In France, the General Directorate of Health speaks of an unusual but not necessarily worrying situation at this stage. Several dozen cases have also been identified in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Portugal as well as in the United States and Canada.
>> Monkey pox: five questions about the dozens of proven cases in Europe and North America
This monkeypox, or simian orthopoxvirus, resembles but less serious the smallpox which was eradicated from the planet in 1980. It generally manifests itself by fever, pimples which appear on the body as during chickenpox, aches and headaches. It is most often benign and heals spontaneously in two or three weeks but may require hospitalization in some cases.
Experts estimate that the West African strain, spotted in the UK, has a very low mortality rate of around 1%. It is not an unknown disease. It has been known since 1958. This infectious disease is due to a virus that usually circulates in Africa, where the animals that host it are found, monkeys but also small rodents (certain African species of rats or squirrels).
Transmission is generally from animals to humans, but these contaminations can also occur from human to human, when there is close contact through respiratory droplets, wounds or sexually. The World Health Organization said on Monday May 16 that it is particularly interested in the fact that some cases in the UK appear to have been transmitted between men within the homosexual community (although anyone can transmit this virus regardless of sexual orientation).
What particularly intrigues the authorities is that the virus is found in people who have not traveled to Africa. The incubation time being from five to 21 days, it is possible that the number of victims will increase in the coming days, hence the vigilance of the health authorities who want to check that there is no sign of abnormal spread. A last reassuring element, the classic vaccine against smallpox is also effective against monkeypox, it is no longer available because we have abandoned vaccination campaigns, but we know how to make it.