(Reuters) – Nearly 20 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the virus, with more than 100 confirmed or suspected infections, mostly in Europe.
Outbreaks are alarming because monkeypox, which is spread by close contact and was first discovered in monkeys, occurs mainly in West and Central Africa and only occasionally spreads elsewhere.
The following is a list of countries that have so far reported suspected or confirmed cases, in alphabetical order:
Asia-Pacific region
* AUSTRALIA on May 20 announced its first case of a passenger who recently returned from the UK. Another suspected case has been identified.
EUROPE
* AUSTRIA confirmed its first case on 22 May.
* BELGIUM opened two cases on 20 May.
* THE CZECH REPUBLIC opened its first case on 24 May.
* DENMARK confirmed a second case on 24 May, the day after the first.
* FINLAND has opened a “very likely” first case, the Helsinki Hospital District announced on May 25th.
* The number of confirmed cases in FRANCE rose to five on 25 May.
* GERMANY has confirmed three cases, the first of which was registered on 20 May.
* ITALY confirmed six cases by 25 May. She opened her first case on May 19.
* THE NETHERLANDS announced its first case on 20 May. He has since confirmed “several” more patients, without specifying the exact number.
* PORTUGAL reported 14 new confirmed cases on 23 May, bringing the total to 37.
* SLOVENIA confirmed its first case on 24 May.
* SPAIN confirmed 11 new cases in the Madrid region on 24 May, bringing the total to 48.
* SWEDEN confirmed its first case on 19 May.
* SWITZERLAND announced its first confirmed case on 21 May.
* THE UNITED KINGDOM opened 14 new cases in England on 24 May, bringing the total to 70.
MIDDLE EAST
* ISRAEL confirmed its first case on May 21.
* The United Arab Emirates opened its first case on May 24, the state news agency WAM reported.
AMERICA
* ARGENTINA announced its first alleged case on May 23. No cases have been confirmed in South America yet.
* CANADA confirmed 15 infections in the province of Quebec on May 24. The province’s health department said more cases were expected from other parts of the country.
* The United States confirmed two cases, the first on May 18. A third case from May 23 is suspected.
(Compiled by Andrei Sichev and Louise Rasmussen in Gdansk; edited by Mila Nisi and Mark Potter)
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