France reports over 1,700 monkeypox cases: Health Minister

The Health Minister of France has recently released a statement, adding that around 1,700 people had been infected with monkeypox in the nation.

Braun said the government so far had opened around 100 vaccination centers for monkeypox and that more than 6,000 people have received preventive vaccination.

Braun called on patients who have lesions or other symptoms to self-isolate as soon as possible.

Braun said he did not see any major threat for the general public and said the government would focus its vaccination campaign on target groups consider the most at risk.

While releasing a statement about the number of infections, Braun said, “The profile (of the patients) is that they are mainly men who have had sexual relations with other men, but one can also be infected by contact with a patient’s blisters.”

He further added, “Majority of the infections has taken place in the Paris region. And a dedicated major vaccination centre will open in Paris this week.

The World Health Organization on Saturday has also released a statement that the rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak shows a global health emergency. So far this year, there have been more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox in more than 75 nations, and five deaths in Africa.

The viral diseases has been spreading mostly in men who have sex with men in the recent outbreak, outside Africa where it is endemic.