The Ile-de-France region is the most affected in France by the monkeypox epidemic with more than 1,300 reported cases.
Île-de-France remains the region most affected in France by the monkeypox epidemic. According to the latest report, published this Friday, by the Regional Health Agency (ARS), based on data from Public Health France (SPF), more than 1,300 cases have been recorded in the region.
“Every day, 60 to 70 new cases are declared” in Île-de-France, specifies the ARS stressing that the epidemic has “the same characteristics” in the Ile-de-France region as in the other French regions.
“96% of the cases for which sexual orientation is provided occurred in people who had frequent multipartner sexual relations. Among the cases for which information is available, 74% declared having had at least two sexual partners within three weeks. before the onset of symptoms”, details the ARS.
Women and children affected
If men who have sex with men have been the most affected since the start of the epidemic, “15 female cases and 4 pediatric cases” have been reported in Île-de-France. The ARS specifies that a case in a child is “under investigation”.
“The female and pediatric cases are the subject of an in-depth investigation and a contact tracing approach, and show no sign of seriousness”, continues the ARS while, since the beginning of the week, vaccination is now privileged in the face of the difficulties of contact tracing.
To date, there are no monkeypox-related hospitalizations in the region. A few short hospital stays were recorded in July for one-off complications.
8000 injections performed
The Regional Health Agency points out that 8,000 injections against smallpox were carried out in the Ile-de-France region, representing “70% of vaccinations carried out in France”.
A “significant increase” is observed during the week of July 25 when 5,000 of the 8,000 vaccinations were carried out. At the same time, new vaccination centers were opened in Île-de-France, with a total of 18 in Paris alone.
Vaccination is accessible “on the basis of a self-declaration of their status as a target person” and after “assessment of the individual benefit-risk balance”. It is also possible for people reporting a risky contact with a patient.
The ARS recalls that “vaccination does not confer immediate protection”. Two doses are usually needed, 28 days apart, for a person to complete their full vaccination schedule.
Faced with the progression of the epidemic, the PCR tests, which complete the clinical diagnosis of the doctor, will be reimbursed by Health Insurance, the Minister of Health, François Braun, announced on Wednesday.