Nearly 100 monkeypox cases detected in Portugal

According to the Directorate General of Health (DGS), almost 100 cases of Mpox (monkeypox) have been detected in Portugal since June in the second outbreak of this contagious disease, which remains active, with an average of five new cases per week. ).

“In June 2023, a new outbreak was detected, after about three months of no reported cases,” the GGD reports, specifying that between June 1 and August 30 this year, 97 laboratory-confirmed cases were detected, 94 of which were registered. in GD. National epidemiological surveillance system with a similar clinical profile to the previous outbreak.

According to DGS, almost all cases are men (one woman) aged 20 to 55 years (median 33), living mainly in the regions of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (89%) and in the North (11%).

Of the confirmed cases, 74 (80%) are men who have sex with men, the health authority says, noting that “in terms of the clinical picture, there was a rash [erupção cutânea] in 78 (83%) cases, according to available information.”

Of the cases for which information is available, 36 (38%) have HIV infection.

“Given 21 days prior to onset of symptoms, 32 (34%) of the cases were sauna visits, 68 (72%) had multiple sexual intercourse, and 31 (33%) engaged in group and/or anonymous sexual activities; 5 (5%) cases relate to trips abroad,” the health authority says.

In total, from May 3, 2022 to August 30, 2023, 1050 cases of smallpox were detected in Portugal, including one death.

On August 22, the WHO continued to consider that “the global risk is moderate, as in the European Region”, with Portugal leading the European region as the most affected country, followed by the United Kingdom (19), Spain (10), France (4), Germany (3), the Netherlands (3), Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland (2).

From the start of vaccine availability (July 16, 2022) to August 30, 2023, 5,763 people have been vaccinated, most of them in the Lisbon and Tagus region. Of the 9377 vaccinations, 8386 were given before infection.

The DGS highlights the need for healthcare professionals and civil society to focus their efforts on early detection of new cases, isolation of patients during the contagious period, and vaccination with two doses within a 28-day interval of eligible groups, including self-suggestion. .

Public health departments in various regions of the country “have made efforts to expand the number of available places”, a list of vaccination sites is available on the DGS website.

Globally, between 1 January 2022 and 29 August 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 89,596 confirmed cases and 663 probable cases of Mpox in 114 countries, including 157 deaths.

The number of new cases reported weekly worldwide increased by 40.8% in the week of 21 to 27 August compared to the previous week, with the majority of new cases in the past four weeks in the Western Pacific Region (59.4 %) and the Americas (23.5%).