The Federal Health Ministry will publish mpox guidelines next week following the declaration of an "international public health emergency" on Friday.
So far, Europe has recorded one case of mpox (formerly monkeypox) in Sweden, following the infected person's travel to an African country. There is an mpox epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the virus has spread to 13 other countries on the continent. Cases are now expected to increase globally, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In Belgium, a Risk Assessment Group (RAG) is analysing the situation and will publish guidelines "early next week", a spokesperson for outgoing Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) told Belga News Agency. Based on the advice, health authorities may implement measures to counter the spread of the virus.
"Belgium is closely monitoring the situation and we have vaccine stocks on hand if needed – although this is not the case currently," the spokesperson stated.
Not as contagious as Covid-19
A new mpox strain called clade 1B is considered deadlier than previous forms of the virus, such as the one at the centre of a global health emergency in 2022. The virus causes a rash or mucosal lesions (lasting between two to four weeks), fever, headaches, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
The WHO has declared a global emergency to mobilise international funds as quickly as possible. These funds will be allocated to contact tracing, laboratory tests and vaccinations. Mpox spreads through close contact (sexual and general), unlike Covid-19, which is contracted primarily through droplets in the air.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has called on health authorities to "maintain a high level of planning for their preparedness to enable swift detection and response to any new cases." However, the agency believes Europe is at low risk. It added that Belgium is connected to the DRC via multiple flight routes and advises vigilance among people travelling between the countries.
The WHO warns that cases in Europe will ramp up in the coming days. The virus' spread to Sweden "clearly reflects the interconnectedness of our world," the organisation said.
