“An isolated case was indeed identified in Brussels, but this person has since almost recovered and we are closely monitoring the situation”we are told in the office of the Federal Minister of Health, Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit).
L'avis de l'expert
Is Belgium facing a new epidemic? How to protect yourself from this disease? Answers with Laurens Liesenborghs, a researcher specializing in emerging infectious diseases and humanitarian medicine who works for the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Antwerp).
Should we be worried about the arrival of mpox in Belgium?
No way. This situation was expected. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently facing a large outbreak of the disease, out of control, with nearly 60,000 cases reported this year. Frequent travel between the DRC and Belgium means that the importation of this disease into Belgium was entirely predictable. We have already observed in the past that isolated cases have been imported to countries not linked to Africa. Given the close ties between Belgium and the DRC, this situation is not a surprise.
Is it a highly contagious disease?
The disease is contagious, but not as contagious as other infections. This is not the new Covid. It is not transmissible by respiratory route, which makes it less of a concern. Transmission requires direct contact, often of a sexual nature, which is the most effective mode of contagion.
What are the symptoms of mpox?
The symptoms of mpox are quite characteristic. It begins with specific skin lesions: spots that evolve into typical papules resembling those of smallpox (now eradicated). These lesions are accompanied by fever and swelling of the lymph nodes. They can appear all over the body, but generally predominate on the area of initial contact, i.e. the genitals. These clinical signs allow a rapid and reliable diagnosis, especially if the disease is detected at an early stage.
Is this what happened with the first patient detected in Belgium?
In this case, the person concerned quickly showed symptoms and contacted a hospital. The diagnosis was made very quickly, which made it possible to quickly isolate the case and prevent its spread.
What precautions should be taken? What are the barrier gestures?
To avoid transmission, it is recommended not to have sex with a person with characteristic lesions or papules, as they contain a high viral load. In case of illness, it is crucial to avoid direct contact, maintain social distance, and above all, abstain from sexual intercourse. Isolation of the infected person during the active phase of lesions is essential to interrupt the chain of transmission.
How long should the isolation of infected people last?
According to the AVIQ recommendations, a sick person must remain isolated until the lesions have completely healed. These develop into ulcers, then into scabs which eventually fall off, thus marking the end of the contagious period. A sick person can be contagious from 2 days before symptoms appear and until the lesions have completely healed, this can take 3 weeks. By following these isolation measures, it is relatively simple to control the spread of the virus.
What is mpox
The new variant (“I-mpox clade”) was recently first discovered in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya. Previously, it had also appeared in Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States and several Asian countries. Belgium is the eighth non-African country where an infection has been detected.
Smallpox is a viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, but is also spread through close physical contact. The disease causes fever, muscle pain and rash. The disease was first identified in Danish laboratory monkeys in 1958 and was until recently called monkeypox. However, in regions where the virus circulates naturally, such as in Africa, rodents are the main vectors of the disease.
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