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Mpox outbreak in the Netherlands, 2022: public health response, characteristics of the first 1,000 cases and protection of the first-generation smallpox vaccine
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View Affiliations Hide AffiliationsCatharina van Ewijkkatja.van.ewijk rivm.nl
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Members of the Dutch Mpox Response Team: Birgit van Benthem, Diederik Brandwagt, Annemiek A van der Eijk, Hanna Bos, Colette van Bokhoven-Rombouts, Lian Bovée, Chantal P Rovers, Brigitte van Cleef, Alje P van Dam, Rik van Dael, Jaap van Dissel, Pauline Ellerbroek, Catharina van Ewijk, Eelco Franz, Corine GeurtsvanKessel, Joke van der Giessen, Hannelore Götz, Josette Häger, Susan van den Hof, Elske Hoornenborg, Putri Hintaran, Jorgen de Jonge, Rosa Joosten, Marion Koopmans, Kevin Kosterman, Jente Lange, Tjalling Leenstra, André J Meeske, Liesbeth Mollema, Eline Op de Coul, Demi Reurings, Gini van Rijckevorsel, Helma Ruijs, Corien M Swaan, Linda Smid, Gregorius J Sips, Sacha F de Stoppelaar, Albert Vollaard, Bettie Voordouw, Harry Vennema, Henry JC de Vries, Karin Ellen Veldkamp, Klaartje Weijdema, Geert Westerhuis, Margreet JM te Wierik, Matthijs Welkers, Toos Waegemaekers, Jacco Wallinga, Paul ZantkuijlView Citation Hide Citation
Citation style for this article: . Mpox outbreak in the Netherlands, 2022: public health response, characteristics of the first 1,000 cases and protection of the first-generation smallpox vaccine. Euro Surveill. 2023;28(12):pii=2200772. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.12.2200772 Received: 29 Sept 2022; Accepted: 17 Jan 2023
Abstract
In early May 2022, a global outbreak of mpox started among persons without travel history to regions known to be enzootic for monkeypox virus (MPXV). On 8 August 2022, the Netherlands reported its 1,000th mpox case, representing a cumulative incidence of 55 per million population, one of the highest cumulative incidences worldwide. We describe characteristics of the first 1,000 mpox cases in the Netherlands, reported between 20 May and 8 August 2022, within the context of the public health response. These cases were predominantly men who have sex with men aged 31–45 years. The vast majority of infections were acquired through sexual contact with casual partners in private or recreational settings including LGBTQIA+ venues in the Netherlands. This indicates that, although some larger upsurges occurred from point-source and/or travel-related events, the outbreak was mainly characterised by sustained transmission within the Netherlands. In addition, we estimated the protective effect of first-generation smallpox vaccine against moderate/severe mpox and found a vaccine effectiveness of 58% (95% CI: 17–78%), suggesting moderate protection against moderate/severe mpox symptoms on top of any possible protection by this vaccine against MPXV infection and disease. Communication with and supporting the at-risk population in following mitigation measures remains essential.
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