28.3 C
Accra
Sunday, February 9, 2025
WorldSpain and Brazil report first monkeypox-related deaths outside Africa

Date:

Spain and Brazil report first monkeypox-related deaths outside Africa

Spain and Brazil reported their first monkeypox virus-related deaths on Friday, followed by Spain reporting its second death on Saturday, marking what are thought to be the first fatalities linked to the current outbreak outside of Africa.

Spain is one of the world’s worst-hit countries, with 4,298 people there infected with the virus, according to the health ministry’s emergency and alert coordination centre.

“Among the 3,750 patients … 120 have been hospitalised and two have died,” the Spanish health ministry said in a report.

In Brazil, a 41-year-old man died of monkeypox, local authorities said on Friday.

The man, who local media said had serious immune system problems, died on Thursday in Belo Horizonte, the capital of the southeastern Minas Gerais state.

He “was receiving hospital treatment for other serious conditions”, the state health ministry said in a statement.

“It is important to underline that he had serious comorbidities, so as not to spread panic in the population. The death rate is very low” for monkeypox, said Minas Gerais health secretary Fabio Baccheretti, who added that the patient was undergoing cancer treatment.

A global health emergency

Brazil’s health ministry has recorded close to 1,000 monkeypox cases, mostly in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states, which are also in the country’s southeast.

Early signs of the disease include a high fever, swollen lymph glands and a chickenpox-like rash.

The World Health Organization (WHO) last Saturday declared the monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency.

According to the WHO, more than 18,000 cases have been detected throughout the world outside of Africa since the beginning of May.

The disease has been detected in 78 countries, with 70 percent of cases found in Europe and 25 percent in the Americas, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

As cases surge globally, the WHO on Wednesday called on the group currently most affected by the virus men who have sex with men to limit their sexual partners.

Ghebreyesus told reporters that the best way to protect against infection was “to reduce the risk of exposure”.

“For men who have sex with men, this includes, for the moment, reducing your number of sexual partners, reconsidering sex with new partners, and exchanging contact details with any new partners to enable follow-up if needed,” he said.

The disease usually heals by itself after two to three weeks, sometimes taking a month.

A smallpox vaccine from Danish drugmaker Bavarian Nordic, marketed under the name Jynneos in the United States and Imvanex in Europe, has also been found to protect against monkeypox.

 

Source: France24.com

[forminator_poll id="710479"]

Latest stories

12 containers of fake US dollars, suspected gold bars intercepted by National Security

National Security operatives have seized a major consignment of...

Piina SHS headmaster interdicted over suspected food smuggling

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has suspended Adams Mahama...

Swedru Hospital staff attacked by okada riders

A violent incident unfolded at the Swedru Hospital after...

Mahama is leading the charge to ensure Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso return to ECOWAS – Foreign Minister

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has reaffirmed Ghana’s...

Ghana has no record labels – Kwabena Kwabena

Highlife musician Kwabena Kwabena has dismissed the existence of...

Brilliant UCC student unable to sit for 5 years due to rare bone disease

A rare genetic condition has left 19-year-old Enock Eshun,...

Ebony Reigns’ grave site visited by family to pay tribute after 7 years

Ebony Reigns' family has once again honored her memory...

Related stories

“I still consider it my biggest failure” – Bill Gates on life after divorce

Bill Gates is speaking candidly about his divorce from Melinda French...

Kanye West reclaims title as wealthiest rapper, surpassing JAY-Z

Kanye West has reportedly reclaimed the title of the...

Meta offers TikTokers $5,000 to join Facebook, Instagram

Social media giant Meta has offered to pay up...

About 1,600 Capitol riot defendants pardoned by Trump

President Donald Trump has issued pardons or commuted sentences...

LIVESTREAMING: Swearing-in ceremony for Donald Trump

Today marks the beginning of Donald Trump's second term...

Inauguration Day schedule for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony today

Donald Trump will take the oath of office today...

WhatsApp to stop working on these devices in 2025

WhatsApp will soon cease supporting 18 Android models and...