Last summer, the world was introduced to a new virus. While the concern about the corona had barely subsided, a potential new threat appeared.
The virus had hardly been detected outside of Africa before, but out of seemingly nothing, thousands of people in the West were developing mysterious blisters and sores on their hands and faces every single day.
BLISTERS: A patient at a hospital in Lima, Peru shows off his blisters on his hand. Photo: Martin Mejia / AP
The blisters were caused by the sexually transmitted virus monkeypox.
International infection control authorities warned early on that men in particular who had sex with men were particularly vulnerable.
Appeared in Norway
In Norway, the first case was detected in May. Then the numbers continued to rise towards the summer.
However, it already peaked in July with 42 confirmed cases. In August, the cases dropped to 22.
Do you have a tip?
We work with health journalism in TV 2. Do you have input on this matter or tips for something else we should write about?
Feel free to get in touch at [email protected]
But despite the sharp decline, the Norwegian authorities expressed concern, and put monkeypox on the list of infectious diseases of public concern.
Here you can find, for example, corona, diphtheria, Sars and typhus.
By doing this, they were free to introduce any measures in the event of a large spread of infection.
Towards zero
However, it was never necessary. Because throughout the autumn, the cases continued to decrease.
A total of 94 cases were detected in Norway last year, according to the specialist director of FHI, Preben Aavitsland.
– We don’t think there are any cases in the country now, he says to TV 2.
Aavitsland says that the virus spread this summer through sex or other intimate contact in an environment of men having sex with men.
– These were largely men with several partners in Norway and abroad, and infection may have occurred at sex parties, sex clubs and in other contexts where you have several partners in a short time.
ONE ENVIRONMENT: Monkeypox mainly spread in a specific environment, according to FHI. Photo: Christian Roth Christensen / TV 2
– Not so common
But because the infection does not spread so easily, the virus never gained a foothold outside this environment.
– The epidemic can only be maintained if the infected have intimate contact or sex with several others during the contagious period. It is not so common outside the relevant environment.
In the USA and other parts of Europe, cases are also falling sharply.
But it was not a given that one would end up exactly here. Because when monkeypox spread globally, there were only a few doses of an unproven vaccine and treatments that had not previously been tested.
– There was concern that the virus would become endemic, like other sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. But that has not happened, says Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of the American infection control agency CDC to CNN.
BLISTERS: Such blisters were clear symptoms of monkeypox. Photo: NTB
Effective grip
When the Norwegian authorities became aware of the outbreak of monkeypox, they designed an infection prevention strategy consisting of four points.
One of the points was, among other things, communication with the risk group about how they could reduce the risk of infection by having fewer sex partners.
– We believe that the first point in particular was effective. The risk group took responsibility in this situation and helped stop the epidemic.
– Press the gas pedal
Experts CNN have spoken to say that the outbreak of monkeypox has taught the world a lot, but still there are a number of mysteries.
DECREASING: The number of cases of monkeypox is falling both in Norway and other parts of Europe and the West. Photo: Handout / NTB
Questions such as where the virus came from and why it suddenly started spreading outside of Africa remain unanswered.
And although the situation in the West and Europe is better now than it was last summer, American experts warn against lowering your shoulders.
– There is no reason to think that the mission has been completed. Rather, put your foot on the gas pedal and let’s take the remaining cases as well, says Gregg Gonsalves, epidemiologist at Yale University in the USA.
– Traveling and sex parties
Aavitsland in FHI says that they expect the epidemic to flare up again outside of Europe this spring and summer.
– Then there will be more traveling and more sex parties in the risk group. Therefore, we continue to vaccinate more people in the risk group and inform them about how to avoid the disease.
But FHI does not think there will be as many cases this year as last year.
– People in the risk group are now aware of the disease, and many of them are immune.
