Monkeypox outbreaks are being reported across Europe and northern America. The disease is commonly found in central and west African regions, making the recent outbreak rare.
The United States and the United Kingdom have reportedly already started their preparations to tackle the disease in its early stages. Both countries have started offering vaccines for smallpox, a disease similar to monkeypox.
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Here are the countries that have already reported new cases of monkeypox in the recent outbreak:
-Canada
-Sweden
-Spain
-Portugal
-United Kingdom
In Spain, all of the reported cases to date involved men in Madrid, officials said. Health officials are currently testing another 22 suspected cases, said Antonio Zapatero of the regional health department.
Zapatero said that more cases are likely to surface in Spain and the rest of Europe in the coming days, Associated Press reported.
United Kingdom’s outbreak this week has been one of the worst so far. The country’s top health agency reported on Wednesday that there were now nine confirmed cases. These were “predominantly in gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men.” However, it is unclear how these individuals got infected.
Monkeypox has not previously been documented to have spread through sex, but can be transmitted through close contact with infected people, their clothing or bedsheets.
Also Read: Monkeypox: what are its symptoms and how does it spread?
Monkeypox typically causes fever, chills, a rash and lesions on the face or genitals resembling those caused by smallpox. A vaccine developed against smallpox has been approved for monkeypox, and several anti-virals also appear to be effective, Associated Press reported.
The World Health Organization has previously said that most people will recover from monkeypox symptoms in less than a month. However, it can be fatal for 1 in 10 people who have been infected.
