Spain has reported its first monkeypox-related death in what is Europe’s first known death and the second outside of Africa in the current outbreak.
The country’s health ministry confirmed the death today.
Brazil reported the first monkeypox-related death outside the African continent in the current outbreak, earlier on Friday.
In its latest report, the Spanish Health Ministry said 4,298 cases had been confirmed in the country.
Of the 3,750 patients it had information on, it said 120 have been hospitalised – accounting for 3.2% – and one has died, without providing further details.
Earlier this month, the head of the World Health Organization declared the monkeypox outbreak a “global health emergency”.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference that while the risk globally is “moderate”, in Europe it is “high”.
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The declaration by the WHO is designed to trigger an international response to the outbreak, which could unlock funding and vaccine sharing.
Monkeypox is very difficult to catch from someone carrying the infection and is mostly caught from infected wild animals in west of Central Africa.
The disease can be transmitted from person to person through close physical contact, including sexual intercourse, and is caused by the monkeypox virus.
