Rare disease smallpox has been discovered in Europe and the United States.
Spain is now sounding the alarm and warning of a potential outbreak of “Monkeypox”.
“The suspected cases point to transmission through body fluids during sexual intercourse,” writes the Spanish Ministry of Health.
Suspected and confirmed cases of “Monkeypox” have been discovered in Great Britain, Portugal and now also in Spain.
It is called monkey pox in Swedish and is described as a rare disease that is usually transmitted between animals and humans, but can also be transmitted between humans during outbreaks. It is caused by a virus.
The Spanish health authority has now issued a nationwide alarm and warns of a potential outbreak, reports El Pais and Reuters.
Spread through sexual contact
23 people in Spain have shown symptoms that could come from the virus. All infected are young men living in the Madrid region and several of them state that they have had sex with men.
“In general, monkey pox is spread by respiratory tract transmission, but the characteristics of the 23 suspected cases point to transmission by body fluids during sexual intercourse,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement. The Guardian.
The cases have not been confirmed, but Spanish authorities are now issuing a warning for preventive purposes. Healthcare in Spain is urged to contact the infection control unit immediately if suspected cases are discovered in order to be able to act quickly when needed.
“It is unlikely that smallpox will lead to a significant infection in Spain, but it can not be ruled out,” said Fernando Simón at the Spanish Ministry of Health, reports El Pais.
The suspected cases are now being investigated at the National Microbiology Center pending diagnosis.
Photo: Gov.ukBritish case linked to travel
In 2003, the United States was hit by an outbreak of smallpox when the disease spread via imported pets.
The first case in the near future was discovered in the UK on May 7, 2022 when a man who was traveling in Nigeria showed symptoms, according to the British Government. On Monday, authorities said a total of nine cases had been confirmed in the UK. None of the other cases have a travel connection.
According to the British Health Authority, several of the patients in the UK have stated that they are homosexual or bisexual. The health authority urges men who have sex with men to pay extra attention to unusual skin rashes.
On Wednesday, Portuguese authorities stated that five cases of monkey pox had been confirmed in the country, reports Reuters. All those infected are men, living in Lisbon and are said to be fine under the circumstances.
The United States also confirmed its first case on Wednesday, writes local health authority in Massachusetts. The infected man has recently been traveling in Canada.
“Monkey pox” was first discovered in Congo in the 1970s and has spread in West Africa in recent decades, reports Reuters.
Common symptoms are rash, fever and headache. The rash often starts on the face and spreads throughout the body. According to Spanish health authorities, people are recovering within a few weeks, but more serious cases have been reported.
Monkey pox is caused by monkey pox virus, which is “a distinct species of so-called orthopox virus”, it says on the Swedish Public Health Agency’s website. It causes a rash on the skin and differs slightly from the virus that can cause smallpox in humans.