A first case of monkey pox has been detected on French territory, in Île-de-France, alerted the Directorate General of Health in a press release sent to health professionals this Thursday, May 19.
Read alsoThis mysterious epidemic of “monkey pox” transmitted from human to human in Europe
“
Several cases of autochthonous infections with Monkeypox (another name for monkeypox) have recently been reported (...) from the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain and Sweden, particularly in men with sexual relations. sex with men ,
”
says the DGS.
“
Suspicious cases are being investigated in many countries
”, which constitutes an “
unusual phenomenon
”, supports the organization.
Dozens of cases
Several dozen suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox have been detected since the beginning of May in Europe and North America, raising fears of the start of the spread of this disease.
The reported cases are mostly mild, and there are no reported deaths, specifies the DGS.
This uncommon disease usually manifests with fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes on the hands and face, like chickenpox.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is due to publish its first risk assessment report "
early next week
", the European Union's disease and epidemics agency said.
The agency, which says it is “
monitoring the situation closely
”, recommends “
isolating and testing suspected cases and reporting them quickly
”.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday it is taking a close interest that some of the cases in the UK appear to have been passed on within the gay community.