Monkeypox: 18,000 cases, low vaccine supplies and a…

Monkeypox: 18,000 cases, low vaccine supplies and a 'small window' of time to contain the virus as Irish numbers grow

The HSE has confirmed that Ireland has a “low and limited” supply of smallpox vaccines to treat those most at risk of contracting monkeypox.

The news comes as 16 additional cases of the virus were confirmed in Ireland in the past week, bringing the total number of cases to 85 - since May 2022.

There are now a reported 18,000 cases of monkeypox which have been confirmed across the globe, as health officials scramble to secure vaccines for those most at risk.

Dr. Eoghan de Barra, a Senior Lecturer at RCSI and Infectious Disease Consultant at Beaumont Hospital told Newstalk, that although the virus is currently confined to self-identifying gay and bisexual men, as well as men who have sex with other men, ‘anybody’ can catch it.

“Anybody is susceptible to monkeypox, but there are certain risk activities that mean you’re at an increased risk,” he explained.

“This is something that is being transmitted and going on in West Africa for many years but now it has spilled over into the rest of the world.

“Most of the transmission so far is from close contacts and most of that from close intimate, or sexual contact. In most of Western Europe and indeed in the US, most of the cases have been in self-declaring gays, bisexuals, or men who have sex with other men - but not all of them.

“Usually it is skin legions, rashes, lumps and bumps, but in severe cases, it can become incredibly painful and can disseminate into a rash across the body and occasionally make people very very unwell.”

What can people do to protect themselves?

In terms of what people can do individually to protect themselves against the illness, Eoghan says: “I think it’s all about the information and education, so at the moment, because the majority of cases are among a group that generally self-identify and engage with healthcare and sexual services better, is that among the gay, bisexual community that they are aware of it, that if they have skin legions to avoid sexual contact or close contact with others, that they get diagnosed.

“The other bit is going to be prevention because there is a vaccine that is effective, it’s the old smallpox vaccine, and this government along with others have secured supply.”

Despite having a supply and planning for its rollout very soon, de Barra said there is only a ‘small window’ of time left to contain this virus before it begins spilling over into other groups in society.

Monkeypox: 18,000 cases, low vaccine supplies and a 'small window' of time to contain the virus (Getty Images)

“We have a small window when the infection is largely confined to a small group, that again access healthcare so we can target it and try to prepare by protecting that population and by protecting them, protect the wider population because there is a risk that it may spill over into other populations.”

The HSE confirmed earlier today that smallpox vaccine supplies are “low and limited” in Ireland and the EU.

A HSE statement read: “Our aim is to ensure people at risk are offered a vaccine at the earliest opportunity, and that we provide the best public health protection with the supplies available.

“Ireland, along with other EU countries, is actively exploring options to increase our medium to the long-term supply of vaccines.”

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has said the vaccine should be first offered to: