Potential determinants of the decline in mpox cases in Belgium : a behavioral, epidemiological and seroprevalence study

Abstract: Objectives: The 2022 mpox epidemic reached a peak in Belgium and the rest of Europe in July 2022, after which it unexpectedly subsided. This study investigates epidemiological, behavioral, and immunological factors behind the waning of the epidemic in Belgium. Methods: We investigated temporal evolutions in the characteristics and behavior of mpox patients using national surveillance data and data from a prospective registry of mpox patients in the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Antwerp). We studied behavioral changes in the population at risk using a survey among HIV-preexposure pr... Mehr ...

Verfasser: De Vos, Elise
Van Gestel, Liesbeth
Brosius, Isabel
Kenyon, Chris
Vuylsteke, Bea
De Baetselier, Irith
Mariën, Joachim
Bangwen, Eugene
Couvreur, Simon
Lecompte, Amaryl
Van Beckhoven, Dominique
Hoorelbeke, Bart
Verstrepen, Babs E.
Zaeck, Luca M.
de Vries, Rory D.
van Kessel, Corine H. Geurts
Hens, Niel
Ariën, Kevin
Vercauteren, Koen
Van Esbroek, Marjan
Van Dijck, Christophe
Liesenborghs, Laurens
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2024
Schlagwörter: Human medicine
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-28956856
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://hdl.handle.net/10067/2076680151162165141

Abstract: Objectives: The 2022 mpox epidemic reached a peak in Belgium and the rest of Europe in July 2022, after which it unexpectedly subsided. This study investigates epidemiological, behavioral, and immunological factors behind the waning of the epidemic in Belgium. Methods: We investigated temporal evolutions in the characteristics and behavior of mpox patients using national surveillance data and data from a prospective registry of mpox patients in the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Antwerp). We studied behavioral changes in the population at risk using a survey among HIV-preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users. We determined the seroprevalence of anti-orthopoxvirus antibodies among HIV-PrEP users across four-time points in 2022. Results: Mpox patients diagnosed at the end of the epidemic had less sexual risk behavior compared to those diagnosed earlier: they engaged less in sex at mass events, had fewer sexual partners, and were less likely to belong to the sexual network's central group. Among HIV-PrEP users there were no notable changes in sexual behavior. Anti-orthopoxvirus seroprevalence did not notably increase before the start of national vaccination campaigns. Conclusion: The observed changes in group immunity and behavior in the population at greater risk of exposure to mpox seem unable to explain the waning of the mpox epidemic. A change in the profile of mpox patients might have contributed to the decline in cases.