The Czech Republic has registered its first death related to the monkeypox virus. The patient was immunocompromised and ultimately died of pneumonia, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday in Prague, according to the CTK agency.

So far, more than 60 cases of monkeypox have been diagnosed in the Czech Republic - most of them in the capital Prague. According to the EU health authority ECDC, there have already been deaths related to monkeypox in Spain and Belgium.

Monkeypoxviruses are related to the classic humanpoxviruses and cowpoxviruses. Until now, monkeypox has been widespread in West and Central Africa. The viruses are mainly found in rodents.