Portugal finds 5 monkeypox cases in men as outbreak spreads

By BARRY HATTON and MARIA CHENG
Associated Press

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portuguese health authorities have confirmed five cases of monkeypox in young men, marking an unusual outbreak in Europe of a disease typically limited to Africa. Portugal’s General Directorate for Health said Wednesday that it also is investigating 15 suspected cases and that all were identified this month in the Lisbon area. British health authorities also confirmed two new cases of the disease in people with no history of travel to Africa and with no known contacts to previous cases. Monkeypox belongs to a family of viruses that includes smallpox. Most people recover from monkeypox within weeks, but the World Health Organization said the disease is fatal for up to one in ten people.