<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><xml><records><record><source-app name="Biblio" version="7.x">Drupal-Biblio</source-app><ref-type>17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Elise De Vos</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Liesbeth Van Gestel</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Isabel Brosius</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Chris Kenyon</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Vuylsteke, Bea</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Irith De Baetselier</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Joachim Mariën</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Bangwen, Eugene</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Simon Couvreur</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Amaryl Lecompte</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Dominique Van Beckhoven</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Bart Hoorelbeke</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Babs E Verstrepen</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Luca M Zaeck</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Rory D de Vries</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Corine H Geurts van Kessel</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Hens, Niel</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Ariën, Kevin K</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Koen Vercauteren</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Marjan Van Esbroek</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Christophe Van Dijck</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Laurens Liesenborghs</style></author></authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Potential determinants of the decline in mpox cases in Belgium: A behavioral, epidemiological and seroprevalence study.</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Int J Infect Dis</style></secondary-title></titles><keywords><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Adult</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Antibodies, Viral</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Belgium</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Female</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">HIV Infections</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Humans</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Male</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">middle aged</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mpox, Monkeypox</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Prospective Studies</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Risk-Taking</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Seroepidemiologic Studies</style></keyword><keyword><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Sexual Behavior</style></keyword></keywords><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2024 Sep</style></date></pub-dates></dates><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">146</style></volume><language><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">eng</style></language><abstract><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;OBJECTIVES: &lt;/b&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;METHODS: &lt;/b&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;RESULTS: &lt;/b&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;CONCLUSION: &lt;/b&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;
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