The GGD region of Utrecht has started vaccinating against monkeypox (monkeypox). For the time being, vaccinations are only given by invitation. According to the GGD, monkey pox is not dangerous for most people, but it can be very annoying. There have been 43 reports of the virus in the Utrecht region so far.
There are several groups that are first approached for a vaccination. It concerns participants in the national PrEP treatment, a preventive medicine against HIV, and people who are in the queue for it. Men who have sex with other men and who are known to Centers for Sexual Health (such as the GGD region of Utrecht) will also be approached.
Symptoms
The symptoms by which you recognize monkeypox are very similar to those of normal smallpox. The symptoms are generally much milder in monkey pox. The disease is mainly recognizable by red spots on the skin, which turn into blisters. These blisters eventually form smallpox, which can be painful. The blisters then dry up, leaving scabs behind. The scabs fall off the skin after two to three weeks. It is possible that scars will remain.
Other complaints that can be associated with monkey pox are fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills and pain in the gut. In most cases, these complaints appear first, followed by the skin rash later.
Contaminated
People who may be infected with the virus are tested by the GGD. If the test is positive, a source and contact investigation will follow. People who emerge from this study as high-risk contact will be approached by the GGD.
If you have been somewhere where someone who carries the virus has been, the GGD advises to contact us immediately if you have any complaints or if you have any doubts about complaints. If you have had (sexual) contact with someone infected with monkey pox in the past three weeks, you will be advised by the GGD to be vaccinated. If you have blisters on your body, it is advised to contact the GGD immediately.
As long as someone has symptoms of the virus, it can be spread. It is therefore advised to stay at home until all the scabs have fallen off the skin and any pain in the intestine has disappeared. It is also recommended to use a condom at least twelve weeks after contact, because there are indications that it can spread through the semen.
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