Spain has reported Europe’s first monkeypox-related death from the current outbreak – and the second outside Africa.
The country’s health ministry confirmed the death on Friday but did not release further details about the person.
Earlier on Friday, Brazil reported the first monkeypox-related death outside the African continent in the current outbreak.
In its latest report, Spain’s health ministry said there were 4,298 confirmed cases in the country.
Of the 3,750 patients for whom information was available, she said 120 had been hospitalized — representing 3.2 percent — and one had died, without giving further details.
The victim from Brazil was a 41-year-old man who, according to the country’s health ministry, also suffered from lymphoma and a weakened immune system.
“Concomitant illnesses worsened his condition,” the ministry said, adding that the patient was hospitalized in the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte and died of septic shock after being taken to the intensive care unit.
Earlier this month, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the monkeypox outbreak a “global health emergency”.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference that while the risk globally was “moderate”, in Europe it was “high”.
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The WHO declaration aims to spark an international response to the epidemic, which could unlock funding and vaccine sharing.
Monkeypox is very difficult for anyone to contract and is primarily contracted from infected wild animals in the West Central African region.
The virus can be passed from person to person through close physical contact, including sexual intercourse.
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The first cases of monkeypox infection were confirmed in England on May 6 this year.
The UK’s Health Security Agency says there have been 2,367 confirmed and 65 highly probable cases of monkeypox in the UK as of July 25.
Of these, 59 are in Scotland, 18 in Northern Ireland, 30 in Wales and 2,325 in England.
Gay and bisexual men are disproportionately affected by the spread of the virus, with 98% of those infected.
To slow its spread, the WHO advises gay men to limit the number of sexual partners they have.
Although most cases so far have been among men who have sex with men, anyone who is exposed can get monkeypox.
Symptoms of the virus include single genital lesions and sores on the mouth or anus, while the NHS website lists high fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen glands, shivering and exhaustion.
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