Monkey pox in Belgium: the authorities seek to reassure

Belgian Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke, during a press conference, in August 2021. (Illustrative photo) AP - Didier Lebrun

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Monkeypox is spreading across the world and, according to the WHO, it is now present in areas where it was not usually present, including Europe and the United Kingdom.

According to a report by the European Center for Disease Control, 85 people are infected in nine EU countries, including Belgium, where the number of infections has risen to four, raising concerns.

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With our correspondent in Brussels,

The fourth case of monkeypox infection was confirmed by the Belgian authorities on Saturday May 21, and the announcement sparked fears in public opinion of a return to health measures similar to those put in place against Covid. .

The Ministry of Health immediately sought to reassure the Belgians, explaining that the number of contaminations was not likely to skyrocket and that monkeypox was not fatal in 99% of cases.

An isolation of 21 days, the maximum incubation period, has however been instituted.

This only applies to infected people.

High-risk contacts are just required to watch vigilantly for any symptoms and to go to the emergency room if they appear.

They are also recommended to be extra careful when in contact with children, pregnant women or people with reduced immunity.

For now, all infections are attributed to encounters between gay men at a fetish festival in Antwerp.

This attribution overlaps with the report from the European Center for Disease Control.

He estimates that the risk of contagion is low for Europe, except for people with multiple sexual partners, especially during male homosexual relations.

►Read also: Monkey pox, nothing alarming but a situation where vigilance is required

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