Ten monkeypox patients require hospitalisation, HSE says

Ten patients have required hospitalisation after being infected with monkeypox, according to the Health Service Executive.

Four of these patients were admitted for clinical care relating to their infection, two were admitted for isolation purposes and information on the other four cases is still awaited, according to a report from the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

All 97 Irish cases detected so far are male, ranging in age from 19 to 65 years. Men aged between 25 and 44 years account for 75 per cent of cases and the median age of cases is 36 years. There are three cases among 19 to 24 year-olds.

The majority of cases — about two-thirds — have been detected in the Greater Dublin Area.

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[ Monkeypox cases in Ireland rise to 97 as pressure mounts on Donnelly over vaccination programme ]

Sexual orientation is known for 75 cases, all of whom self-identify as gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM).

The most likely source of infection was considered to be sexual contact, reported for 51 cases.

Where known, 42 cases were born in Ireland (43 per cent) and 18 in Latin America (19 per cent).

Eighteen cases were HIV positive while 40 reported they were negative.

Oral or genital lesions were the most frequent symptoms, reported in three-quarters of cases. Other common symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, as well as lesions elsewhere on the body.

The first Irish case was notified on May 31st but the earliest known date of onset of symptoms among confirmed cases was May 13th.

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According to the HPSC, recently reported deaths — two in Spain and one in India — highlight that although generally mild, monkeypox infection can lead to severe disease and even death.

Globally, over 25,000 monkeypox cases have been reported. Last month, the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

Last week, Mr Donnelly approved recommendations by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee to provide pre-exposure prophylactic vaccination to those at high risk of infection, including gbMSM and others at high risk of unprotected exposure.

The HSE, which says supplies of vaccine as “low and limited”, says it working to review the Niac advice and is putting in place plans to identify those most at risk “and the best way to use our supply of vaccines”.

The Social Democrats called on the Minister to clarify when the vaccination programme will be rolled out.