Cuba’s health authorities are monitoring for the mpox virus, known as monkeypox, a disease spread by Africa and Europe, said Dr Francisco Durán, national director of Hygiene and Epidemiology at the Ministry of Public Health.

Durán affirmed that there are no cases in the country and recalled that two years ago, eight cases were detected, controlled by the Cuban health system, which is now alert to the appeal of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The UN health authority declared mpox a sexually transmitted disease, caused by contact with infected skin and mucous fluids.

Regarding the symptoms of the disease, he explained that lesions appear on the skin, causing fever, general malaise, headaches, muscular discomfort, alteration of the lymph nodes and, a few days after the symptoms, a rash appears, generally in areas of the trunk, hands and feet.