The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands has detected a second possible case of monkeypox infection that is being treated at the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital, in Tenerife, without requiring hospital admission.

The samples that will determine whether or not the diagnosis is confirmed have been sent to the National Microbiology Center in Madrid.

This second case corresponds to a young man, who meets, according to the epidemiological survey carried out, the notification criteria and case profile that the Ministry of Health has registered as an alert for monkeypox infection, also known as 'Monkeypox'. This second case under investigation will be notified this Friday to the Ministry of Health and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), as indicated by the protocols.

Given his favorable evolution, the patient must continue his process at home with the corresponding follow-up, details the Ministry in a note.

Of the two cases detected in the Canary Islands, only one is linked to the party held in the south of the island of Gran Canaria, held until last Sunday, May 15. Health anticipates that the event may have contributed to the transmission of the virus, but it is still too early to know the weight with which it may have contributed to the spread.

Epidemiological information on close contacts that may exist outside the autonomous community is centralized by the Center for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies (CCAES), which is the body of the Ministry of Health that has global information, so it is not yet Possible preliminary case study and confirm possible foci.

This is the second case under study in the Canary Islands after another was notified this Thursday that he is being treated by the Doctor Negrín University Hospital of Gran Canaria without requiring hospital admission and for which the result of the analysis of the diagnostic test sent to the hospital is awaited. National Center for Microbiology.

Like this second case, the patient from Gran Canaria is progressing favorably and is following his process at home. Both cases have no epidemiological relationship.

Monkeypox infection is a rare disease until now that causes fever, headache, swollen glands and rashes on the hands and face, similar to that caused by chickenpox.

The virus has a low capacity for human-to-human transmission and requires close, intimate contact. The incubation period ranges from 5 to 13 days, although it can sometimes be as long as 21.

On May 15, the United Kingdom launched a health alert to the WHO, in accordance with international health regulations, after detecting the first four cases in Europe.

This alert has activated the protocol in all health centers of the Canary Health Service with the aim of early detection of possible cases that could be detected.