The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands has detected today a possible case of monkeypox infection that is being treated at the Dr. Negrín University Hospital of Gran Canaria.

The patient has not required hospital admission and his case is under study in coordination with the National Center for Microbiology, which will confirm or rule out the case in question.

This is a young male, who, after the epidemiological survey carried out, meets the notification criteria and case profile that the Ministry of Health has registered as an alert for monkeypox infection, also known as Monkeypox. Given his favorable evolution, he must continue his process at home with the corresponding follow-up.

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.

Its transmission occurs through the respiratory route, however the current suspected cases of infection respond to contact with mucous membranes during sexual intercourse.

The case under investigation will be notified to the Ministry of Health and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), as indicated in the protocols.

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.