The Dutch GGD has ordered a three-week quarantine for everyone who has had contact with or been near someone who has tested positive for the monkeypox virus. This is a cautious approach, according to a representative for the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), because much about the virus is still unknown.

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Housemates, sexual contacts, and other close contacts of someone infected with the virus are asked to stay at home. According to the RIVM spokeswoman, the quarantine advise also applies to persons who have been less than one and a half metres away from a patient for more than 15 minutes without protective clothing.

It can take five to 21 days for someone to acquire symptoms after coming into touch with a monkeypox patient. The GGD maintains contact with those who must, as a precaution, remain at home. They are instructed to take their temperature every day and to be on the lookout for symptoms.

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The monkeypox virus is distinguished by skin blisters. People may experience weariness, swelling lymph nodes, and headaches before the blisters emerge. It remains to be established how likely it is to become infected after coming into touch with a patient who has not yet shown symptoms. “It is still too early to say that,” the RIVM spokesperson remarked.

The quarantine advice has been distributed to the GGDs, however it has not yet been detailed on the RIVM website. According to the spokeswoman, the guidance is still subject to change.

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It is also unclear whether, as with coronavirus, the isolation period may be reduced if a test confirms that someone does not have the virus after a few days. “It is still being investigated after how many days you could possibly test.” The monkeypox virus now has a reporting requirement, which implies that clinicians who have confirmed or suspect virus infection must report it.

There are presently two known instances of monkeypox in the Netherlands. The source of the infection, according to the RIVM spokesperson, is still being researched.