Madrid, 30 July 2022 (TDI): Spain reported its first monkeypox-related death on Friday. This is the first death due to monkeypox in the continent of Europe. The Ministry of Health of Spain on Friday confirmed its first death from Monkeypox.
“Of the 3,750 patients with available information, one hundred and twenty cases were hospitalized (3.2%) and one of the cases has died,” the emergency and alert coordination center said in a report on Friday.
“3,458 of 4,148 patients with available information were men who have sex with men.” the emergency center added. However, the Ministry Spokesperson declined to give further information regarding the dead patient.
Situation in Europe
In the rest of Europe, as of 29 July, a total of 10,059 confirmed cases of Monkeypox have been reported. Furthermore, Germany reported 2,540 cases, the United Kingdom 2,367 cases, France 1,837 cases, the Netherlands 878 cases, and Portugal 633 cases.
Unfortunately, most are young men with a history of relationships in the context of risky sex, the report confirmed.
Monkeypox Outbreak
Monkeypox is an infectious disease that is caused by the Monkeypox virus. It is called monkeypox because it was first identified in monkeys.
Moreover, it is transmitted from one person to another through close contact with the infected person or with materials contaminated by the virus.
Further, skin-to-skin contact, face-to-face contact, mouth-to-skin contact, and touching virus-contaminated beddings, and towels are major sources of transmission.
The first cases of Monkeypox were found in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. However, it is the first time that it has affected areas outside Africa.
In the current outbreak, the first case of monkeypox was first reported in the United Kingdom on 6 May 2022. Equally important, the affected person has travel links to Nigeria.
On 23 July 2022, WHO declared the outbreak an “emergency of international concern” and declared a global health emergency. The case fatality ratio of monkeypox has historically ranged from 0 to 11 % in the general population & has been higher among young children.
However, in recent times the case fatality ratio has been around 3–6%. These statistics have been shared by the World Health Organization (WHO).
