Health authorities in Madrid have confirmed the region’s first locally transmitted case of the new mpox strain, known as clade 1b.
The case involves a 49-year-old man who is currently isolating at home and said to be recovering well, according to the regional Department of Public Health.
Officials last week confirmed that the man had engaged in sexual contact with other residents of the Madrid area, and health teams are now tracing his recent contacts to determine whether the infection has spread further.
Laboratory analysis of lesion samples taken after the onset of symptoms confirmed infection with the clade 1b variant.
The results will be sent to Spain’s National Centre for Microbiology for further verification, and the case has been reported to the Ministry of Health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the clade 1b strain of mpox (previously known as monkeypox) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in August 2024, warning of its rapid transmission and higher severity.
The strain, which originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, has since spread to several countries with no previous cases. It is considered more contagious and has an estimated fatality rate of around 3.6%.
Unlike earlier outbreaks that primarily affected adults through sexual transmission, this variant has also been detected among children, typically through household contact.
Mpox is a rare viral infection that usually causes fever, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash resembling chickenpox. The lesions typically appear on the hands, face, and genitals.
Although the WHO lifted its global health emergency declaration for mpox on 4 September, Spanish authorities remain on alert amid signs that this more aggressive strain could re-emerge in Europe.
Read more national Spain news at the Spanish Eye.
