Portugal records community transmission of the mpox virus Ib subvariant, having reported 66 cases in the last six weeks, the highest value outside Africa, according to the World Health Organization. This year, 282 cases have been confirmed in total, but the Directorate-General for Health guarantees that infections are decreasing. The situation places Portugal as one of the countries most affected by the new variant outside the African continent, which has been the epicenter of the outbreak.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is mainly transmitted through direct contact with skin lesions, bodily fluids or respiratory droplets of infected people, and can also spread through contaminated objects. The Ib subvariant has raised increased concern due to its greater community transmission capability, meaning the virus is circulating sustainably in the population without the need for travel or direct contact with imported cases.
The most common symptoms include fever, intense headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes and a characteristic skin rash that evolves into blisters and scabs. The rash can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet and other areas of the body. Most cases are mild, but the disease can be severe in people with weakened immune systems, children, pregnant women and people with a history of eczema.
A vaccine against mpox is available in Portugal, mainly recommended for at-risk groups and healthcare professionals. The Directorate-General for Health has been monitoring the situation and ensuring that, despite the increase in cases, the country's response is adapted to the current reality, with health authorities closely following the evolution of the situation to ensure that community transmission is controlled.
