Spain has reported what is believed to be Europe’s first death linked to monkeypox in the current outbreak of the disease.
Brazil reported earlier on Friday the first monkeypox-related death outside Africa in the current wave.
According to a July 22 World Health Organization report, only five deaths have been reported worldwide, all in Africa.
Last Saturday, the WHO declared the rapidly spreading epidemic a global health emergency, the highest level of alert.
In its latest report, the Spanish Ministry of Health said there were 4,298 confirmed cases in the country, with only 64 of them being women.
Of the 3,750 patients for whom information was available, 120 were hospitalized and one died.
A spokesman for Spain’s health ministry declined to give further details about the deceased.
The victim from Brazil was a 41-year-old man who, according to the health ministry, also suffered from lymphoma and a weakened immune system.
“Co-morbidities worsened his condition,” the ministry said.
It added that the patient was hospitalized in the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte and died of septic shock after being taken to the intensive care unit.
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