Belgium issues a quarantine order, the US rushes to buy a vaccine

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that new figures will be released on May 23 (local time) after they recorded 20 cases of the virus. monkey pox May 21st.

When asked if these were community transmissions in the UK, UKHSA Chief Medical Adviser Susan Hopkins replied “definitely”.

“We are detecting cases with no history of contact with an individual from West Africa … We are detecting new cases every day,” said Ms. one case is being treated in the intensive care unit.

According to Hopkins, infections have been detected mainly in urban areas, among gay or bisexual men.

“Right now, the risk of infection in the general population is still extremely low, but I think people need to be vigilant,” she said, adding that for most adults, symptoms will be “relatively low.” light”.

The UK reported its first case of monkeypox virus on May 7 in a patient who had just returned from Nigeria. The disease is also spreading in Europe and North America.

The first case of monkeypox virus in the UK was detected in a patient who had just returned from Nigeria. Photo: Reuters

In Belgium, the Risk Assessment Authority last week announced a 21-day quarantine for cases of monkeypox virus. This decision was implemented after Belgium detected 3 cases of infection.

The fourth case was detected on May 22, Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst said on social media. Like the previous three infections, this case is related to Darklands, a gay festival held in early May in Antwerp – Belgium.

Monkeypox is a disease for which there is no cure, but it usually clears up on its own within a few weeks. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this is not a disease that spreads easily between people, requiring close and prolonged contact with bodily fluids, wounds and respiratory droplets or other substances. contaminated items, such as blankets, pillows, and mattresses.

Monkeypox was detected in more than 12 countries last week, including the Netherlands, France, Germany, Spain and the United States.

After discovering one case last week, the US quickly purchased 13 million doses of Jynneos smallpox vaccine, which was approved to fight the virus in 2019.

There is currently no cure for monkeypox, but it usually clears up on its own within a few weeks. Photo: Reuters