- The first death from a monkeypox infection has been registered in Spain.
- Brazil had previously reported the first death from the virus outside of Africa.
- According to the WHO, the number of infections with monkeypox is increasing worldwide.
The infected person died of the disease in the Valencia region in north-eastern Spain, the Ministry of Health in Madrid said on Friday evening. Further information about the deceased person was not initially disclosed. Spain is one of the countries most affected by monkeypox in the world. Of the 4,298 cases of infection that have been recorded across the country so far, only 120 have so far required hospitalization, it said.
16,000 cases of monkeypox in 75 countries
In view of the rapid spread of monkeypox, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the highest alert level last weekend. The outbreak is an “emergency of international concern,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday in Geneva. According to Tedros over the weekend, more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox had already been confirmed in 75 countries. Europe is particularly affected.
In a situation report earlier this week, the WHO recorded a total of five deaths – all in Africa. The death of an infected man was also announced in Brazil on Friday. This is believed to be the first death outside of Africa.