As the spread of Covid continues to slow in France and the region, monkeypox is in the news. If the topic is worrisome, this is not the time to panic.
After more than two years of the health crisis, the topic of epidemics has become very sensitive. But if Covid is still around, it’s monkeypox that worries now. Here are 4 questions to better understand the situation.
One thing is for sure: We can no longer talk about Covid in the past tense.
According to the latest report from Public Health France in New Aquitaine, the slowdown in the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 continues in the region. The infection rate fluctuates around 200 new cases per 100,000 habitats over the course of a week. This is well above the 50 alert threshold, but we reached these peaks during the fifth wave in which the parameters developed.
There are several explanations: Good weather that gets us some fresh air, and herd immunity with the vaccinators, who’ve had the virus, who’ve had a double whammy, vaccinators who’ve had the virus as well.
We are still counting today 1,131 people have been hospitalized for Covid in New Aquitaine, and 72 are in a limousine. Professor Jean-Francois Foucher, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the University Hospital of Limoges, explains that he still has vulnerable patients in his department.
We deplore 121 deaths since the beginning of May in New Aquitaine, 17 inches limousine.
We can’t predict the future, and we already have surprises… This downward trend should continue in the coming weeks, but health authorities remain on alert.
There are concerns in China and Korea: If the number of cases explodes, it can be there Ramifications and Europe. aAt the moment, infections are increasing again in Portugal, with a new variant, which is “BA5″.
Professor Jean-Francois Foucher invokes the strengthening of precautionary measures in the fall. He explains that Covid is basically a respiratory infection and that It is clear that its transmission is favored by the fact of living in water-blocked conditions.
Meanwhile, the most fragile and People over 80 who have not had a dose of the vaccine for more than 3 months can see a doctor for an update on their protection.
Several European countries have recorded cases.monkeypox”monkeypox, which usually infects African countries.
There were 80 cases outside Africa this weekend and more and more are expected, here again health monitoring services are closely monitoring the situation.
Symptoms are numerous: First fever, headache and muscle achesgeneral fatigue. We are already contagious. Then after a few days, A rash on the face that may spread to other parts of the body. In general, the disease lasts from two to four weeks and then resolves on its own. The doctor must make a diagnosis after the analysis.
Monkeypox is usually transmitted to humans by rodents or primates. It is a zoonotic disease. But it can also be transmitted between humans, through direct contact with skin lesions or mucous membranes of a sick person.
There is currently one known case in France, and he is confined to his home. If necessary, there is a vaccine, the smallpox vaccine.
Monkeypox can sometimes lead to serious forms, but according to the World Health Organization, “Most of the cases listed in Europe are mild at the moment.”
What is worrying, according to the World Health Organization, is that the first data indicates transmission between humans “More important than previously observed.” There are currently cases in Europe of people who have not traveled to Africa.
This is not the first. Professor Fucher recalls that in 2003, in the United States, imported domestic rodents caused a small number of cases, but no deaths.
According to an epidemiologist at the University of Limoges, Pierre-Marie Briaux, “At the moment (monkeypox) does not have the infectious properties of Covid at all.” You should also know that the situation is not exceptional. Pierre Marie Briaux explains: “This is a potential emerging risk that we are aware of.”
In 2012, for example, the World Health Organization monitored the emergence of “Mers”“Middle East respiratory syndrome”. Health surveillance services also monitor tick-borne encephalitis in eastern countries. We track dengue, chikungunya, and of course, bird flu: The mutation in birds should not become dangerous to humans.
Therefore, monkeypox is a very serious topic, but it is also a serious topic A kind of risk that we were already experiencing before the Covid epidemic, Which will definitely continue.
