(Reuters) – Nearly 20 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of viral disease, with more than 100 confirmed or suspected infections, mostly in Europe.
Outbreaks are alarming because monkeypox, which is first spread by close contact and was first found in monkeys, occurs mainly in West and Central Africa, and only occasionally in both spread to other places.
The following is a list of countries that have so far reported suspicious or confirmed cases, in alphabetical order:
ASIA-PACIFIC
* AUSTRALIA reported its first case on May 20 to a traveler who had recently returned from Britain. Another suspicious case was also identified.
EUROPE
* AUSTRIA confirmed its first case on 22 May.
* BELGIUM detected two cases on May 20.
* THE CZECH REPUBLIC detected its first case on 24 May.
* DENMARK confirmed a second case on 24 May, one day after the first.
* FINLAND has discovered a “very likely” first case, Helsinki Hospital District said on May 25.
* 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 has confirmed six cases on May 25. He detected his first case on May 19.
* THE NETHERLANDS reported its first case on 20 May. He has since confirmed “several” more patients, without specifying the exact number.
* PORTUGAL reported 14 new cases confirmed on May 23, with a total of 37.
* SLOVENIA confirmed its first case on 24 May.
* SPAIN confirmed 11 new cases in the Madrid region on May 24, bringing the country’s total to 48.
* SWEDEN confirmed its first case on May 19.
* SWITZERLAND reported its first confirmed case on 21 May.
* The UK detected 14 new cases in England on 24 May, bringing the total number of identified cases to 70.
MIDDLE EAST
* ISRAEL confirmed its first case on May 21.
* The UAE detected its first case on May 24, the state news agency WAM reported.
AMERICAS
* ARGENTINA reported its first suspicious case on May 23. No case has yet been confirmed in South America.
* CANADA has confirmed 15 infections in the province of Quebec as of May 24. The provincial health department said more cases were expected from other parts of the country.
* The United States has confirmed two cases, the first on May 18. A third case is suspected starting May 23.
(Compiled by Andrey Sychev and Louise Rasmussen in Gdansk; edited by Milla Nissi and Mark Potter)