Monkeypox: Ninth case confirmed in Belgium
On 28 May, a new case of monkey pox was identified at CHU Saint Pierre in Brussels, bringing the total number of cases in Belgium to 9. That news was confirmed by virologist Marc Van Ranst to Belga.
The European Union is currently the largest hotspot for monkeypox infection, with 118 active cases. Cases of the rare virus were first detected in the United Kingdom in early May. Since then, there have been about 400 confirmed cases worldwide, but the infections have been mostly minor and have not resulted in casualties.
Unusual spread
Despite calls for calm from both Belgian and international health authorities, the head of the pandemic response team, Sylvie Briand, has warned that the unusual spread of the virus could be the tip of the iceberg, but that with the right tools it could easily be contained.
Flemish Minister of Welfare Hilde Crevits reported in Parliament on Wednesday that the number of people infected with the monkeypox virus will be communicated twice a week - on Wednesday and Friday.
Strong protection
Nevertheless, officials state that it is not a disease that the general public should be concerned about, as it is not like Covid-19. Most people already have strong protection against monkeypox infection due to the high rate of smallpox vaccination in the West. The two viruses belong to the same family.
The mortality rate for monkeypox is much lower than for smallpox, only 3-6%. The virus is spread by close contact with an infected person with lesions on the skin. The first cases in Belgium were linked to Darklands, an international fetish festival which took place in Antwerp at the beginning of this month.
Antiviral treatments against smallpox have proven effective against monkeypox and most patients recover within three to four weeks. Belgium has purchased a supply of monkeypox vaccines for about 625 potential patients. Belgians infected with the virus are expected to commit to a three-week isolation period.
(AHU)
© BELGA PHOTO PAUL-HENRI VERLOOY