23 May 2022 | 03:46 PM UTC
Europe: Monkeypox outbreak in Western Europe; most cases in Spain, Portugal, and England
Ongoing monkeypox outbreak is primarily affecting Spain, Portugal, and England, UK. Contact tracing ongoing; use basic health precautions.
Event
Public health officials report an ongoing outbreak of monkeypox in multiple countries during late May 2022, where at least 176 suspected cases, including confirmed, have occurred April 29-May 23. Suspected cases have been identified in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. As of May 23, Austria and Greece have no confirmed cases.
Most cases in this outbreak have occurred in Spain (100 cases), Portugal (37 cases), and England, UK (20 cases), according to data through May 23. Detailed location information remains limited while disease surveillance and contact tracing continues; additional affected countries will likely be identified in the coming weeks.
Context
In contrast to sporadic cases reported in the past linked to travel to endemic countries, health officials have not confirmed the source of infection for the current spike in cases. However, suspected human-to-human transmission occurs among people in close physical contact, with clusters of cases reported in men having sex with men (MSM) population. The current outbreak highlights the importance of vigilant safe sexual practices and suggests monkeypox can be sexually transmitted while the infected person displays few or no symptoms; however, risk is currently assessed as low for individuals not routinely engaging with multiple or anonymous sexual partners.
Monkeypox does not naturally occur in Europe; most cases are reported in West and Central Africa, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and Cameroon, among individuals who report contact with wild primates or other mammals that may harbor the disease.
Monkeypox is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. However, monkeypox is not the same as smallpox, and it does not have the same capacity for rapid human-to-human transmission. Monkeypox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected rodents or primates. Human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through close personal contact with an infected individual via respiratory droplets, direct contact with bodily fluids, or indirect contact with lesion material - e.g., contaminated clothing or bedding. Symptoms typically appear 6-16 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle and back aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.
Advice
Practice basic health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding obviously ill individuals. Avoid overcrowded areas such as nightclubs and consider using safe sexual practices such as physical barriers (condoms) in countries reporting monkeypox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas, especially if you have had one or more new sexual partners.
