09 Jul 2022 | 09:01 AM UTC
Europe: Monkeypox cases identified in more European countries in July; most cases are in Germany, Spain, and the UK /update 5
Monkeypox cases identified in new areas of Europe in July; Germany, Spain, and UK remain most affected. Use basic health precautions.
Event
Public health officials have reported additional monkeypox cases in European countries during July. At least 6,218 suspected cases, including 6,214 confirmed, have occurred May 31-July 6. Suspected cases have been identified in Italy, France, and Belgium. The risk to the broader population is considered low.
Most cases in this outbreak have occurred in Spain (1,444 cases), Germany (1,385 cases), and the UK (1,395 cases), according to data through July 6. Detailed location information remains limited while disease surveillance and contact tracing continue; additional affected countries may be identified in the coming weeks.
Context
Many of the cases in this outbreak report attending one or more recent mass gatherings in Antwerp, Madrid, and Gran Canaria, Spain; mass gatherings always present an elevated risk of infectious disease. Human-to-human transmission occurs among people in close physical contact, with the increase in recent cases linked to sexual contact, suggesting that the virus linked to the disease can be sexually transmitted. The current outbreak highlights the importance of vigilant safe sexual practices and suggests monkeypox can be transmitted while the infected person displays few or no symptoms; however, the 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 rodents or other mammals that may harbor the disease.
Monkeypox is caused by a virus belonging to the same family as the one 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.
