7 solutions to stop the spread of monkeypox

Europe is at the epicenter of the monkeypox epidemic, as is the region” largest and largest geographically have been reported outside the endemic areas of West and Central Africa. This is recalled by the World Health Organization (WHO) in a statement sent to the press on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

In the same document, the WHO indicates that the risk of increased transmission during the summer is particularly high. At this stage, however, we are still far from a pandemic, and monkeypox is very different from covid, which, at this stage, will not require restrictive measures like those experienced by the population in 2020 and 2021.

But the evolution of this virus is still uncertain. To contain its spread, we need a significant and urgent reduction in exposures through clear communication, joint action, isolation of cases during the infectious period, and effective contact tracing and surveillance “, explains the WHO.

The WHO monkeypox roadmap

To contain the spread of monkeypox as quickly and as best as possible, the WHO has drawn up a list of 7 lines of action:

• Actively engage community groups and leaders, as well as civil society organizations to create awareness ” and to ” share information on how to reduce the risk of exposure, ” in particular, by reducing the number of your sexual partners “.
• Encourage people – “ including youth, regardless of gender, orientation, or sexual activity — learn about monkeypox and what to do if they think they have been exposed to it or show signs of it.
• Please support the organizers and communities involved in the upcoming mass gatherings in Europe” take advantage of these events to share accurate, practical and specific information with attendees “.
• Provide health facilities and public health teams with the knowledge ” and the ” diagnostic capabilities they need to quickly identify, investigate and confirm cases.
• Ensure that monkeypox patients are instructed to self-isolate during the infectious period of their illness, to refrain from sexual and other close contact with others, and to be supported during their isolation.
• Quickly trace all the contacts of the cases and control their absence of any relevant disease” for 21 days “. If the contacts in quarantine ” not necessarily necessary “according to the WHO, temperature checks twice a day and self-monitoring” are essential “.
• Use the ” currently available medical countermeasures” in a “fair and equitable manner », depending on the level of risk, the availability and relevance of the intervention. ” We cannot allow ugly competition for limited resources to replicate the early days of the covid pandemic. “WHO is concerned.

For the WHO, the implementation of these courses of action could ” demystify » This disease is still little known in the West, counteracting the misinformation that already abounds on the web.

On the same note, this will avoid any stigmatization of specific groups of people. In terms of public health, this will serve to “ accelerate actions by regions, countries and communities to stop the spread » accelerating the delivery of diagnostics, vaccines, antivirals and other equipment.