what is this new virus?

The word smallpox makes one fear the worst, but one should not confuse according to Damien Mascret. “This is monkeypox, which should not be confused with the historic smallpox, which had 30% mortality and was eradicated in the late 1970s.” This virus, first detected in a monkey, hence the origin of its name, is much more widespread in rodents than in humans.

Of course, normally with this virus, the disease kills in 1 to 10% of cases, but there is no reason to worry: “We are dealing with a strain that is more around 1%, a strain that comes from Nigeria”, tempers Damien Mascret. The virus is mainly present in sub-Saharan Africa such as the Central African Republic or the Congo, where nearly 3,000 cases have been recorded since 2017. Admittedly, most of the symptoms are mild, but the pustules that appear are a recognizable element of smallpox. However, Damien Mascret reassures: “It gives little chance of a global epidemic, but let’s be careful with viruses.”