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The confirmed infections of the monkey pox virus in our country took place at the Darklands fetish festival in Antwerp, but could have happened at any festival or party with many people close together. This is the opinion of virologist Marc Van Ranst, who closely monitors the spread these days. In the meantime, more suspicious samples have been added.
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Rebecca Van Remoortere
Today at 12:13–
“The monkeypox virus is spread through all forms of close contact in the same room. This can be through large droplets that one coughs out and perhaps also through small droplets. There is only old literature about the latter, so we are not entirely sure,” says virologist Marc Van Ranst.
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According to him, the spread can happen at any indoor festival or event where many people are packed closely together. “That close contact can happen in 101 different ways and is certainly not only related to sexual contact. It is good that the festival provides free condoms, but those alone will not stop the monkeypox. Sexual contact is very close contact, so we’re going one step higher in terms of transmission.”
According to the virologist, the organization can now only properly inform those who were present. “And they are doing that a lot.”
ALSO READ. Infected cases of monkey pox linked to Antwerp fetish festival, organization reports
Still suspicious samples
In the meantime, more suspicious samples have come in. We don’t know yet whether they are positive, but some also have photos and you can draw conclusions from that. There will certainly be more positive cases, when we cannot predict exactly. You can also see the map of infections filling up in other countries. Each country is now dealing with new cases at their own pace.”
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Van Ranst also emphasizes that it is important to show as many photos of monkey pox as possible. “Not to frighten people, but to inform them. If they recognize these things in themselves or others, they can intervene. That is the key to the solution.”
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