Portugal reports 14 new cases of monkeypox infection

Portuguese authorities have identified 37 cases of monkeypox in the country, Report informs, citing TASS.

"Another 14 cases of human infection with the monkeypox virus have been confirmed in Portugal, taking the total cases to 37," the republic's main health department noted. They clarified that the results of tests for other possible cases are expected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that monkeypox is a rare viral disease mainly in remote areas in central and western Africa, located near tropical rainforests.

According to the WHO, the virus is transmitted to humans from wild animals such as rodents and primates, and its secondary spread through human-to-human transmission is limited. Typically, the case fatality rate for monkeypox outbreaks is between 1% and 10%, with the majority of deaths occurring in younger age groups, the organization said. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for monkeypox, but prior vaccination against smallpox also ensures the highly effective prevention of the disease.