The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recommends that European Union (and EEA) countries focus on early detection, management, contact tracing and reporting of new cases of monkeypox.
Countries should also update their contact detection mechanisms, diagnostic capacity for orthopox viruses and review the availability of smallpox vaccines, antivirals and personal protective equipment for health professionals.
Infected individuals should remain isolated until crusts drop and should especially avoid close contact with immunosuppressed persons and pets. Abstinence from sexual activity and close physical contact is also recommended until the rash has healed. Most cases can be kept at home with supportive care.
Close contacts of monkeypox cases should be monitored on their own for the development of symptoms for 21 days after the last exposure. ECDC will continue to closely monitor developments and will update the risk assessment as new data and information become available.
Between 15 and 23 May a total of 85 cases of monkeypox have been reported in eight EU Member States (Belgium, France, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden). Transmission can occur through close contact of mucous membranes or non-intact skin with infectious material from lesions or through large respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact.
"Most of the current cases have presented with mild symptoms and for the wider population, the probability of spread is very low," said ECDC Director Andrea Amon.
"However, the possibility of further spread of the virus through close contact, for example during sexual activities between people with multiple sexual partners, is considered high," she added."
Monkeypox virus can cause severe disease in certain population groups, such as young children, pregnant women, and immunosuppressed individuals. Further investigations are needed to accurately assess the level of morbidity and mortality.
If human-to-animal transmission occurs and the virus spreads to an animal population, there is a risk that the disease could become endemic in Europe. Therefore, there must be close cross-sectoral cooperation between human and veterinary public health authorities to manage exposed pets and prevent the transmission of the disease to wildlife.
Source: APE
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