Luxembourg Monkeypox Cases Rise to 23; 1.4k Vaccine Doses Expected in August

Luxembourg's Ministry of Health has reported that a total of 23 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in the Grand Duchy to date.

As of 26 July 2022, a total of 13,043 cases of monkeypox in 37 countries and areas in the European region had been reported to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This represents an increase of 2,439 cases over one week.

The majority of cases concerned people aged 31 to 40 (5,222 / 12,735; 41%), particularly men (12,606 / 12,688; 99.4%). Of the cases with known HIV status, 37% (2,153 / 5,889) were HIV positive. The majority of cases presented with rash (7,259 / 7,663; 94.7%) and systemic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhoea, chills, a sore throat or headache (5,105 / 7,663; 67%). 339 people with monkeypox were hospitalised (6.2%), of which 131 required clinical care. One infected individual was admitted to an intensive care unit but for reasons unrelated to monkeypox. No deaths have been reported. 34 people with monkeypox were reported to be healthcare workers, although they had been exposed to the virus outside work.

In Luxembourg, a total of 23 cases of monkeypox had been confirmed up to 27 July 2022 inclusive. This represents an increase of nine cases compared to the previous week (fourteen cases). So far, all the cases detected concern men with an average age of 39. No one has been hospitalised. According to the Health Ministry, the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of these cases are very similar to the cases reported at the European level.

Concerning vaccination, a first delivery of vaccines from the HERA (the European Commission's Health Preparedness and Response Authority) order is planned for the month of August 2022. Luxembourg expects to receive 1,400 vaccine doses out of a total of 109,000 doses ordered by HERA. The Superior Council of Infectious Diseases (Conseil supérieur des maladies infectieuses - CSMI) is preparing recommendations on the vaccination campaign which will start as soon as the vaccines are delivered.

Luxembourg's Health Directorate has recalled the importance of protecting oneself against the virus and avoiding risky situations in order to limit its spread. Protective measures include washing hands regularly with soap, avoiding sharing bed linen and towels with infected individuals or those who have been in contact with infected individuals and use of protection in case of sexual contact.