“Some encouraging early signs, such as those observed in France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and other countries, indicate that the epidemic could slow down”, declared, this Tuesday August 30, the World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe. Last week, the WHO reported a 21% reduction in new cases worldwide after four consecutive weeks of increases. However, it is through the pursuit of a sustained effort that the good current models will be confirmed. The organization therefore recommends that states maintain surveillance measures, targeted vaccination and engagement with the male homosexual community, where the virus mainly circulates.
In this sense, the French Ministry of Health indicates that the offer of vaccination against monkeypox will be «maintained for several months», i.e. until 2023. To date, 3,547 cases have been confirmed, which places France is the fourth most affected European country. «Global prevention allows for the first time a drop in the incidence», confirmed the Director General of Health, Jérôme Salomon, who assures that, by the end of the week, «we will have exceeded 140,000 doses of vaccine delivered to the field». For now, the 220 vaccination centers opened in France have vaccinated 70,000 people. On September 13, the Minister of Health, François Braun, will bring together «all the parties» involved in the fight against monkeypox, in order to take stock of the epidemic.