Rabat – Spain’s Ministry of Health has issued an alert over a possible domestic monkeypox outbreak, after 23 people reported familiar symptoms.
The ministry said the cases have yet to be confirmed while putting in place a nationwide alert to guarantee a swift and timely response.
Madrid’s health department said that while monkeypox is usually spread by respiratory transmission, the suspected cases show sexual transmission, adding that they’re being analyzed at the National Microbiology Centre.
The people showing symptoms are under quarantine and are being monitored by health authorities.
The disease is unlikely to have a significant spread according to Fernando Simón, head of the Spanish Health Emergencies Center. He did not rule out the possibility, however.
Cases have also been confirmed in the UK and Portugal.
Early symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes and chills. Chickenpox and syphilis-like rashes can also develop across the body.
Monkeypox is rare, and most people experience mild symptoms and make a recovery in a few weeks, the UK’s National Health Service said.
Though no vaccine is approved for monkeypox in Europe, Spanish authorities reportedly purchased smallpox vaccines as a measure to deal with any possible outbreaks.
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