The health authorities in Spain warn of a potential outbreak of the rare disease monkey pox.
More than 40 possible cases have been detected in Spain and Portugal, according to the health authorities.
The announcement of the outbreaks in Madrid and Lisbon comes a few days after the British authorities reported seven cases in the last month.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health said that the suspected cases were from the Madrid region.
None of the cases have been confirmed so far, but a nationwide alert has been issued “to guarantee a quick and coordinated response”, according to The Guardian.
Received a shock diagnosis after a holiday trip
Different symptoms
A spokesman for Madrid’s regional health department says that the suspected cases are being analyzed by the National Microbiology Center to get a final diagnosis.
– In general, monkey cups are spread by respiratory transmission, but these eight suspected cases point to fluid contact, the spokesperson says.
Fernando Simón, an epidemiologist who heads Spain’s health center, says that although it is unlikely that monkey pox would spread significantly, “it can not be ruled out.”
Early symptoms of monkey pox include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and chills.
A rash that may look like chickenpox or syphilis can also develop and spread from the face to other parts of the body, including the genitals.
Most people recover within a few weeks.
MONKEY CUPS: This little boy is infected with monkey cups. Photo: Charles Boussel / AP
sea view
Infection in England
Monkey pox, or monkeypox as it is called in English, is a disease caused by a variant of the smallpox virus. It gives a similar disease picture as smallpox, but is less contagious and has lower mortality, writes FHI on their websites.
Most people recover after a few weeks.
The infection is normally spread from wild animals, but can also be transmitted between humans. according to Sky News the person in England must have been infected while in Nigeria. The person in question is now receiving treatment at a hospital.
Monkey cups got their name when it was first discovered in 1958, when an outbreak occurred among monkeys held for research.
So far, seven people in England have been confirmed infected.
Several cases have also been registered in Canada. At least 13 cases are being investigated in Montreal, writes Radio Canada.
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