Over 1,000 People in Luxembourg Vaccinated Against Monkeypox

According to Luxembourg's Ministry of Health, more than 1,000 people in the Grand Duchy have been vaccinated (partially or fully) against monkeypox to date.

As of Thursday 6 October 2022, there had been no new confirmed cases of monkeypox in Luxembourg since 14 September 2022, with the total standing at 55.

All confirmed cases to date concerned men with an average age of 37 years. Three individuals were hospitalised for a short period but have since been discharged from hospital. According to the Health Ministry, the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of cases detected in Luxembourg are very similar to the cases reported at the European level.

Vaccination against monkeypox for certain at-risk individuals began at the national service for infectious diseases at the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg (CHL; appointments via tel.: 4411-3129) on 16 August 2022. Up to 6 October 2022, a total of 681 people had received a first dose of the vaccine and 415 people had received a second dose.

The recommendation of the Superior Council of Infectious Diseases (Conseil supérieur des maladies infectieuses - CSMI) of 24 August 2022 provides for the administration of a single vaccine dose to people who have received a previous vaccination against smallpox with a live first or second generation vaccine (people born before 1977 or those with a typical vaccination scar on their arm). 

Luxembourg's Health Directorate has recalled the importance of protecting oneself against the virus and avoiding risky situations in order to limit its spread. Infected individuals should be isolated and avoid contact with other people, cover lesions and pimples and practise good hand hygiene. Protective measures include limiting the number of one's sexual partners and not sharing personal effects (bed linen, towels, razors, etc.) with infected individuals or with those who have been in contact with infected individuals.

Up to 6 October 2022, a total of 24,833 cases of monkeypox in 44 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 211 cases over one week.

The first known case of monkeypox dates back to 7 March 2022 and was identified by a retrospective test on a residual sample.