Photo: ANP
Two people have tested positive for the monkeypox virus in the past week. That is the lowest number since the virus appeared in the Netherlands in May. In total, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has now identified 1,221 infections with the virus in the Netherlands.
One of the two new patients lives in Noord-Holland or Flevoland, and the other in Overijssel or Gelderland.
Last week, the RIVM reported that it had registered four positive monkey pox tests in a week. A week earlier, six infections had come to light, and fourteen a week earlier. The number of new cases has been falling since the end of July, now 11 weeks in a row.
Since the end of July, people who are most at risk of contracting the virus can be vaccinated preventively. At least 13,799 people have now had a first shot, and at least 5867 of them have also had the second vaccination. These figures are not complete, because an unknown number of people do not want to share the vaccination data with RIVM.
Last week, Minister Ernst Kuipers (Public Health) reported that more than 13,000 first shots and almost 5000 second shots had been taken. That turnout was somewhat disappointing for Kuipers and the RIVM. The relatively low turnout may be due to the declining number of infections.
About 32,000 people have been invited for the preventive monkey pox shot. Transgender people and men who have sex with men are eligible for the shot if they are HIV positive or if they take medication to prevent them from contracting HIV.