France becomes the fourth country in Europe to identify a case of clade 1b mpox on its territory. This is currently raging in Central Africa and could be responsible for more severe symptoms than clade 2, at the origin of the 2022 epidemic. Health authorities recall the importance of vaccination for target audiences.
After the identification of a first case of mpox (formerly called “monkey pox”) clade 1b in mainland France, confirmed Monday January 6, health authorities recall the importance of vaccination for target populations.
The patient, domiciled in Brittany, has not traveled to central Africa where different clades are actively circulating, including clade 1b. This person, treated at the Rennes University Hospital (Ille-et-Vilaine), was however in contact with two individuals returning from central Africa.
France is the fourth European country after the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden to record clade 1b mpox contamination since the summer of 2024. Clade 2b continues to circulate quietly since the epidemic of 2022 with 215 cases reported to Public Health France in 2024.
Vaccination for whom?
The detection of clade 1b in the territory does not change the measures put in place to combat the spread of the virus. Thus, in a press release dated January 7, the Ministry of Health and Public Health France recalls the importance of vaccination for target audiences.
“In accordance with the opinion of the High Authority for Health (HAS) of August 29, 2024, vaccination is recommended as a preventive measure in pre-exposure for people at high risk of exposure, and as a reactive measure for contact persons at risk around of a case of mpox”.
Are concerned:
- men who have sex with men reporting multiple partners;
- trans people with multiple partners;
- sex workers and people in prostitution;
- professionals in places of sexual consumption;
- partners or people sharing the same living space as those at high risk of exposure mentioned above.
“In accordance with the opinion of the High Council of Public Health (HCSP) of September 2, 2024, people with close links to the countries of Central Africa where the mpox virus is actively circulating, including people regularly visiting their family or aid workers can also get the mpox vaccine before their trip.”
It is also recommended that people returning to or going to Central Africa apply barrier gestures: wash their hands frequently and avoid contact with infected people or people with skin rashes reminiscent of mpox, with objects that these people could possibly have been contaminated as well as with animals and particularly rodents.
What are the symptoms?
The transmission of mpox, caused by the Monkeypox virus, similar to smallpox, is transmitted by prolonged contact with an infected person (skin lesions, bodily fluids, contaminated objects). To a lesser extent, the virus can be transmitted by droplets (spray, sneezing).
After an incubation period of 5 to 21 days, fever, sore throat, and lymph nodes precede the rash – these symptoms can, however, occur at the same time. “The epidemic which raged from May 2022 in Europe, linked to clade 2b – and which then spread to the rest of the world – shows more localized skin rashes, often on the genital or perianal areas” , specifies the Pasteur Institute.
The disease generally heals spontaneously but complications can occur: skin superinfections, septicemia, encephalitis, or corneal damage. The illness lasts 2 to 4 weeks and the patient is contagious from the appearance of the first symptoms.
An international public health emergency
In August 2024, the WHO declared a second public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) due to the resurgence of mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo and several neighboring countries and the appearance of the new clade, clade 1b – the sub -type from which the French patient suffers – possibly more transmissible and deadly than clade 2.
This disease is subject, in France as in Europe, to reinforced surveillance. The Regional Health Agencies (ARS) are responsible for implementing the necessary measures to limit the risk of spread: surveillance (mandatory reporting of cases and virological analyzes by the national reference center for orthopoxviruses), prevention, diagnosis, treatment cases and contacts, as well as free vaccination of target audiences and contacts.
