The Monkeypox virus is currently not circulating anymore in Belgium
On 18/11 there hadn't been any new cases of monkeypox reported in the past few weeks ‧but the virus has been circulating in Belgium and the rest of the world between May and October, particularly among men who have sex with men.
If you have any questions about the monkeypox virus (symptoms, precautions, vaccination, …), the Ex Aequo team is availabe at 02 736 28 61 or by e-mail at info@exaequo.be.
TRANSMISSION
It is transmitted mainly by:
- Skin or mucous membrane contact (mouth, sex, anus) with pimples or scabs, mostly during sex
- Droplets (sputum, sneezes, etc.)
In the following situations:
- Long face-to-face droplet contact
- Close physical contact, especially during sex
- Sharing linen (clothes, sheets, towels, etc.), toiletries (razor, toothbrush), dishes, etc.
Today, monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but sexual intercourse, with or without penetration, meets all the conditions for contamination. Having multiple partners increases the risk of exposure to the virus. If wearing a condom does not prevent entirely from a contamination, it might prevent the apparition of anal or genital lesions.
It is advisable to wash towels at 60°C and not to use other people's towels.
SYMPTOMS
Between 5 and 21 days after possible exposure, watch for the following symptoms
- Swollen and painful lymph nodes under the jaw, neck or groin
- Pimples on the body (on the face, in the mouth, on the palms, soles of the feet, on the sex and anus, on the chest or limbs)
- Fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue
After a few days or weeks :
- The pimples dry up and become scabs
- The crusts fall off and the lesions heal
Most people recover within a few weeks. Most people heal within a few weeks. Exceptionally, these symptoms can be more severe, especially in immunocompromised people, children, pregnant women and the elderly. At this stage, the cases reported in Europe are mostly mild.
- Click if you want to see pictures of pimples caused by monkeypox
RECOMMENDATIONS
If infection is suspected, e.g. through abnormal wounds, (sexual) contact should be avoided and it is advisable to go to a hospital emergency room where the necessary samples can be taken and tested (see contacts at the end of the page).
As long as symptoms are present, people with monkeypox are highly contagious. Self-isolation until the scabs have fallen off is recommended.
High-risk contacts, such as cohabitants and sexual partners, are advised to monitor their condition for 21 days for symptoms - taking into account the incubation period - and should not be quarantined. They may benefit from post-exposure vaccination within 4 days of high-risk contact.
AFTER HIGH-RISK CONTACT
If you have had high-risk contact (sex, sharing dishes, etc.) with a person confirmed positive for monkeypox, you may have been infected. Here are some recommendations:
- If the contact took place less than 4 days ago (or 14 days if you are highly immunocompromised), you may be able to benefit from vaccination (see paragraph below)
- Watch for symptoms for 21 days: rash, headache, fever, joint pain, swollen glands, fatigue. You can take your temperature several times a day to see if it is above 38°C. If you have symptoms, you can go to a testing centre (see below)
- Avoid contact with people who are more vulnerable: children, pregnant people, elderly people, immunocompromised people
- Avoid sharing your clothes, dishes (glasses, cutlery, etc.) with other people
- Avoid sexual relations and if this is not possible, try to have a permanent means of contact (preferably a telephone number) to notify your partners in case of a positive test
- Wear a mask when talking face-to-face with others for several minutes
- Avoid contact with domestic animals that can carry monkeypox
The Ex Æquo team remains available at 02 736 28 61 or by e-mail at info@exaequo.be
Source: AviQ, Sensoa, CHU de Liège, Sciensano, https://www.sexosafe.fr/
VACCINATION
In Belgium, from 21/11 onwards, all gay/bi men and transgender people can access to preventive monkeypox vaccination.
If you got your first dose abroad, you can now get the 2nd dose in Belgium.
- If you currently show symptoms, if you have just had monkeypox, you will not be eligible for the current vaccination.
If you meet the criteria, you can contact your nearest vaccination centre to book an appointment from 21/11. The list of centres is available at the end of the page.
If you do not fit into these categories or want to get vaccinated sooner, you can make an appointment at one of the French centres (listed below), which are accessible to everyone.
Post-exposure vaccination in Belgium is currently possible in two situations:
- You had sexual intercourse less than 4 days ago with a person infected with monkeypox (= very high risk contact).
- You are a largely immunocompromised person and you had a high-risk contact less than 14 days ago with a person infected with monkeypox. That is, you spent more than 30 minutes face to face, without a mask, with an infected person, or you shared dishes (glass, cutlery, bottle, etc.), clothes, towels, sheets (including if you slept with an infected person, without having sex) with an infected person or if you've lived with them when they were infected.
The vaccine offered is the smallpox vaccine, which also provides protection against monkeypox. In the event of contact, it prevents the development of symptoms or alleviates them, provided that action is taken quickly.
The current stock of vaccine does not allow for the extension of vaccination to other groups.
Infos : https://www.stpierre-bru.be/mo...
If you've been vaccinated against smallpox as a kid and you're not immunocompromised, you already have some protection (not 100% though). Here is a list of countries associated with the last year smallpox vaccine was mandatory. If you were born before those years, you've probably been vaccinated.
France: 1979
Belgium: 1976
Luxembourg: 1977
Spain: 1977
UK: 1971
Germany: (1975 : ex-FRG, 1982 ex-GDR)
Italy: 1977
Brazil: 1973
Netherlands: 1974
USA: 1972
Romania: 1980
Portugal: 1979
This is what the vaccination scar looks like. Beware, other vaccines can leave a scar. A scar is no proof of vaccination.
- Who to contact in case of symptoms or exposure?
- Where to go get vaccinated?