France had sixteen "
confirmed
" cases of infection with the monkeypox virus on Saturday, according to health authorities on Sunday.
Read alsoThis mysterious epidemic of “Monkeypox” transmitted from human to human in Europe
Of these sixteen cases, twelve were reported in Ile-de-France, one in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, two in Occitanie and one in Normandy, according to figures from Public Health France.
The previous assessment reported seven "
proven
" cases according to the new Minister of Health Brigitte Bourguignon on Wednesday.
Public Health France announces an update of the balance sheet for Monday.
SEE ALSO -
Monkey pox is a "relatively mild disease", recalls Marc Cherki
No epidemic “outbreak”
Ms. Bourguignon had indicated that the authorities did not expect an “
outbreak
” of the disease, and that the country had sufficient stocks of vaccines for people in contact.
The Directorate General of Health told AFP on Friday that the first two people, considered to have had risky contact with a monkey pox patient, were vaccinated in Paris, at the Bichat hospital.
Read alsoMonkey pox: the EU is preparing group purchases of vaccines
Faced with cases of monkey pox, in an opinion issued on Tuesday, the High Authority for Health recommended the vaccination of adults, including health professionals, who have had risky contact with a patient.
Monkey pox ("
monkeypox
" in English) or "
simian orthopox virus
" is a disease considered rare, known in humans since 1970. It is caused by a DNA virus.
SEE ALSO -
Monkey pox: Brigitte Bourguignon wants to "eradicate the problem" through European cooperation
