Credit: Ministry of Health (sante.lu)
On Friday 26 August 2022, Luxembourg's Ministry of Health provided details within the context of their weekly update concerning the spread of the Monkeypox virus, both in Luxembourg and within Europe.
As of 23 August 2022, in 43 countries and areas in the European region, a total of 21,098 cases of monkeypox have been reported to the health authorities European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), which represents an increase of 1,669 cases since last week.
The majority of cases were between 31 and 40 years old (8,231/20,644 - 40%) and were men (17,684/17,896 - 98.8%). Of the cases with known HIV status, 37% (3,070/8,257) were HIV-positive. The majority of cases had rash (12,415/13,072 - 95%) and systemic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, sore throat or headache (8,476/13,072 - 65%). 576 cases were hospitalized (5.9%), including 194 who required clinical care. Four cases were admitted to the intensive care unit, two of whom died of monkeypox. To date, 64 cases have been reported to be healthcare workers, of which three cases had occupational exposure. In all three cases, healthcare workers were wearing the recommended personal protective equipment, but were exposed to body fluids while collecting samples.
Until 24 August 2022 inclusive, 50 cases of monkeypox have been detected in Luxembourg, which represents an increase of 5 cases since last week. So far all the cases detected are male with an average age of 37 years. Two cases were hospitalised for a short time and have meanwhile been discharged from hospital. The other epidemiological and clinical characteristics of cases detected in Luxembourg are very similar to cases reported at European level.
Vaccination against monkeypox of certain people at risk began at the National Service for Infectious Diseases on 16 August 2022. Up to and including 24 August, 284 people were vaccinated and a total of 1,029 vaccination appointments (first and/or second injection) have been taken. Luxembourg has just received an additional 200 doses of vaccine from the Netherlands in order to better meet the high demand. The Grand Duchy therefore now has a total of 1,600 doses to vaccinate at least 800 people. Persons at risk who wish to be vaccinated can make an appointment at the following telephone number: 4411-3129.
The Department of Health recalls that it is important to protect oneself against the virus and to avoid risky situations in order to limit the spread of the virus. Infected people should be isolated and avoid contact with other people, cover lesions and pimples and practice hand hygiene. Among the protective measures, it is advisable to reduce the number of sexual partners and not to share personal effects with infected people or who have been in contact with infected people (bed linen, towel, razor, etc.).
