Wow, cool – Spanish health officials on Wednesday (18/5) issued a national warning regarding a possible outbreak of monkeypox. This warning was made after 23 people were reported to be showing symptoms of the virus.
The health ministry said a national alert was issued to guarantee a prompt, coordinated and timely response. The new cases in the Madrid region are being analyzed by Spain’s National Center for Microbiology and have not been confirmed.
Monkeypox in general does not spread significantly. But still, it cannot be ruled out. That’s according to Fernando Simon, an epidemiologist in charge of Spain’s health emergency centre.
In other countries such as Portugal, five cases have been confirmed. Health authorities are also investigating 15 other suspected cases. In the UK, seven cases have been confirmed since May.
As for monkeypox, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, initial symptoms usually include fever, headache, fatigue and chills, with a rash and facial lesions that develop a few days later and spread to other parts of the body. Monkeypox can also be transmitted from animals to humans through bites, scratches and direct contact with bodily fluids or wounds, according to the CDC.
Until now, there is still no known drug that can cure monkeypox. However, most people recover from the virus on their own within a few weeks with the help of their immune system. Monkeypox is more common in Africa, where one in 10 people die after contracting the virus.
Madrid’s health department said in a statement that monkeypox is spread by common respiratory transmission. However, for the 23 previously reported cases, it was suspected that transmission came from mucus through sexual intercourse.
“In general, monkeypox is spread by respiratory transmission,” said the Ministry of Health. “But the characteristics of the 23 suspected cases lead to transmission through mucus during sexual intercourse.”
“Eight suspected cases in Madrid were among men who had sex with men,” he continued. “They are isolated at home, but they are kept under surveillance if they require hospitalization.”
(wk/zodi) –
