>No preventive vaccines against the mpox virus (monkeypox) are being administered in Belgium for the time being. This is what resigning Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) says now that a new variant is circulating in Africa. Anyone who had close contact with someone who is infected must go into isolation and contact their GP.
>Our country is prepared for a possible new outbreak of the mpox virus (formerly known as monkeypox). This is what Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke said after consultation with experts last night.
>A new, more contagious and possibly more dangerous variant of the virus is on the rise in Africa. The new variant has also emerged in Sweden. Although it is the only confirmed infection in Europe for the time being.
>A major vaccination campaign is therefore not yet necessary in Belgium, says Minister Vandenbroucke. “We have asked the experts of the Superior Health Council to consider whether we should provide a limited, targeted vaccination campaign, as during the outbreak of the virus 2 years ago. But for the time being, that is not an option.”
>”Our experts confirm that we do not have to worry too much about the new variant of the virus at the moment. No infection has currently emerged in our country, but we must of course be vigilant,” says Vandenbroucke. “If there is a new outbreak, we have sufficient vaccines in stock.
In the last days there are new cases in other countries (both EU and all over the world).
If WHO has declared this as a world health emergency, and given the direct contact that we have with Congo (the hot spot), why not to take a few preventive measures? like some screening in flights to RDC to check fever/symptoms, suggesting vaccination to risk groups going or coming from that country, contact tracing… That won’t be a huge investment and could save a lot of pain if things go wrong…
Several countries specially in Asia are taking these measures, and I think they historically react better to pandemics. Maybe we should learn a bit from them…
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>No preventive vaccines against the mpox virus (monkeypox) are being administered in Belgium for the time being. This is what resigning Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) says now that a new variant is circulating in Africa. Anyone who had close contact with someone who is infected must go into isolation and contact their GP.
>Our country is prepared for a possible new outbreak of the mpox virus (formerly known as monkeypox). This is what Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke said after consultation with experts last night.
>A new, more contagious and possibly more dangerous variant of the virus is on the rise in Africa. The new variant has also emerged in Sweden. Although it is the only confirmed infection in Europe for the time being.
>A major vaccination campaign is therefore not yet necessary in Belgium, says Minister Vandenbroucke. “We have asked the experts of the Superior Health Council to consider whether we should provide a limited, targeted vaccination campaign, as during the outbreak of the virus 2 years ago. But for the time being, that is not an option.”
>”Our experts confirm that we do not have to worry too much about the new variant of the virus at the moment. No infection has currently emerged in our country, but we must of course be vigilant,” says Vandenbroucke. “If there is a new outbreak, we have sufficient vaccines in stock.
In the last days there are new cases in other countries (both EU and all over the world).
If WHO has declared this as a world health emergency, and given the direct contact that we have with Congo (the hot spot), why not to take a few preventive measures? like some screening in flights to RDC to check fever/symptoms, suggesting vaccination to risk groups going or coming from that country, contact tracing… That won’t be a huge investment and could save a lot of pain if things go wrong…
Several countries specially in Asia are taking these measures, and I think they historically react better to pandemics. Maybe we should learn a bit from them…
[https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/sweden-activates-mpox-contact-tracing-prepares-virus-containment-contingencies/](https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/sweden-activates-mpox-contact-tracing-prepares-virus-containment-contingencies/)
edit: added link