An electron microscope (EM) image shows oval-shaped mature monkeypox virus particles as well as crescents and spherical particles of immature virions, obtained from a clinical sample of human skin associated with the prairie dog outbreak from 2003 in this undated image obtained by Reuters on May 18, 2022. Cynthia S. Goldsmith, Russell Regnery/CDC/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY./File Photo

LISBON/MADRID, May 19 (Reuters) – Portuguese health authorities have identified nine new cases of monkeypox virus infection, bringing the total to 14, while in Spain authorities on Thursday reported the seven first cases.

Monkeypox is a rare viral infection similar to human smallpox, although milder. Symptoms include fever, headache, and rash.

Outbreaks in Britain, Portugal, Spain and the United States have raised alarm bells as the viral disease, which is spread through close contact and was first discovered in monkeys, occurs mainly in West Africa. West and Central, and only very occasionally elsewhere. Read more

The nine confirmed patients in Portugal are stable and are being closely monitored, the Portuguese health authority DGS said on Wednesday, adding that experts were trying “to identify chains of transmission and potential new cases”.

Most cases in Portugal have been reported in and around the capital Lisbon, the DGS said.

Spain has reported its first seven confirmed cases and 22 possible cases, all in the central region of Madrid, local health authorities said.

“It is possible that we will have more cases in the next few days,” Madrid regional head of public health Antonio Zapatero told Onda Cero radio station.

The Portuguese health authority has asked people with “suspicious symptoms”, such as rashes or ulcerative lesions, to refrain from direct physical contact with others.

Reporting by Christina Thykjaer in Madrid and Catarina Demony in Portugal, Editing by Emma Pinedo, Inti Landauro and Barbara Lewis

Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.