The first country is introducing mandatory quarantine for monkey goats as the number of cases worldwide increases

Belgium has become the first country to introduce a mandatory 21-day quarantine for monkey goat patients, as cases of the disease – usually endemic to Africa – spread around the world.

Health authorities in Belgium measures were introduced on Friday after reporting a third case of the virus. As of Monday, the state has recorded four local cases; There are currently about 100 confirmed global infections.

Belgian mandatory measures only apply to patients with a confirmed infection. Close contact does not require self-isolation, but we encourage them to remain cautious, especially when in contact with vulnerable people.

“Infected people will have to go into contact isolation until the injuries heal (they will receive specific instructions from the attending physician),” the government said in a translation.

The United Kingdom, meanwhile say those at high risk infected with the disease must self-isolate for 21 days. This includes household contacts or healthcare professionals who may have come in contact with an infected patient.

Monkey goats are a rare disease caused by the monkey goat virus – part of the black goat family – with symptoms, including rashes, fever, headaches, muscle aches, swelling and back pain.

Although typical less severe than black goatshealth professionals are increasingly concerned about the recent outbreak, which began in early May, in countries outside Central and West Africa.

Health authorities, including the United States Centers for Disease and Infection Control and the United Kingdom Health Safety Agencythey said they observed a special concentration of cases among men who have sex with men, and called on gays and bisexuals in particular to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions.

From Saturday onwards, World Health Organization reported that there were 92 cases in 12 countries and a further 28 suspected cases under investigation. The US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands all have confirmed cases.

The Public Health Authority said the recently reported cases had no links to travel from endemic African countries, which is unusual for the disease. It usually spreads through human-to-human or human-to-animal contact.

“Epidemiological investigations are ongoing, but reported cases have so far had no established travel links with endemic areas,” the WHO said. a statement published on its website Saturday.

“Based on currently available information, cases have been mostly, but not exclusively, identified among men who have sex with men (MSM) seeking care in primary care and sexual health clinics,” he adds.

Although most cases of monkey goats are mild and usually disappears within 2 to 4 weekscurrently exists there is no proven vaccine. The smallpox vaccine has been shown to be 85% effective in preventing infection and some countries they have already begun accumulation of doses.

Berkley noted that the new outbreak, which emerged even though the existing coronavirus pandemic was “not over yet”, was a warning to authorities to invest more in infectious diseases. He spoke at the edge World Economic Forum in Davos, where political and business leaders have collected this week to key global issues, including pandemic preparedness.

“It’s evolutionarily certain that we’ll see more outbreaks,” he said. “That’s why pandemic preparedness is so important. See what it can do economically when a pandemic strikes you.”