2 Argentines from Spain report monkeypox virus

ARGENTINA NOW becomes the latest country to confirm cases of monkeypox as part of a global outbreak that has seen the rare virus sprout up in several countries that are not usually known to have outbreaks.

Buenos Aires, May 28: Argentina reported two cases of the monkeypox virus on Friday in men who had recently arrived from Spain, marking the first time the presence of the virus has been confirmed in Latin America during this latest outbreak.

Argentina’s health ministry first confirmed a man from the province of Buenos Aires who had travelled to Spain has monkeypox. Later in the day, the ministry said in a statement that a suspected case involving a resident of Spain who had arrived in Argentina earlier in the week was also confirmed positive.

Argentina now becomes the latest country to confirm cases of monkeypox as part of a global outbreak that has seen the rare virus sprout up in several countries that are not usually known to have outbreaks. The sequencing of the virus in the first confirmed case revealed a high degree of similarity with monkeypox from western Africa, as has been the case with the new infections around the world, Argentina’s Health Ministry said.

Authorities have revealed little about the patients but said they are both in good health and are being isolated while receiving treatment for their symptoms. The first confirmed case involved a man who travelled to Spain from April 28 through May 16 and had symptoms compatible with monkeypox, including lesions and a fever, on Sunday. All of his close contacts are being monitored and none have presented any symptoms to date. —