In an opinion dated July 21 and made public this Monday, the High Health Authority (HAS) pronounces itself in favor of the reimbursement of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), which allow the detection of monkeypox, also called Monkeypox.
This decision comes at a time when the disease is gradually gaining ground on European soil, when in the past it was limited to the African continent. As of July 21, 1,567 cases have been confirmed in France, the majority in men who have sex with men, with an epicenter in Île-de-France.
Proof of global concern, the World Health Organization triggered the maximum alert level for the disease on July 23, with 17,000 cases registered in 74 countries.
Clinical examination and questioning remain a priority
“Based on the latest available epidemiological data, international recommendations and after listening to stakeholders, HAS supports the inclusion for reimbursement of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) to detect virus infection. Monkeypox”, indicates HAS in its opinion. Although it specifies that the diagnosis of infection is based first on clinical examination and patient questioning.
Monkeypox is characterized in particular by impressive pustules that appear on the patient’s body and, according to the first scientific publications, can be contracted during sexual intercourse.
“The detection by NAAT only intervenes to confirm or not the infection by the virus, when the clinical picture is not sufficiently explicit”, maintains the HAS. These tests can be performed, in order of priority, using mucosal, skin, and oropharyngeal samples.
Source: BFM TV
