BRUSSELS, May 20. (EUROPEAN PRESS TELEVISION) –

The European Commission indicated this Friday that it is monitoring “very, very carefully” the evolution of monkeypox in the European Union, a rare virus in Europe and which health authorities consider “moderately” contagious, although this month, several outbreaks have been detected in the country. -Countries such as Spain, England and Portugal.

“We are in close contact with Member States and other countries participating in the Committee on Health Security who have met this week and will meet again next Tuesday,” said the spokesman for the Executive Health at a press conference in the Brussels Community, Stefan Keersmaecker, at the group. European Commission advisory in which experts from EU countries participate.

The committee will “hold regular meetings to monitor” the outbreak and ensure that there is a “good flow of information” between relevant EU agencies and bodies, as well as with national governments.

In addition, the spokesperson pointed out that the European Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) published this Thursday the first report showing that it is a virus of “moderate transmission between humans”, with a higher risk when in close contact, for example in sexual intercourse, but without contact level is considered to be a lower risk.

However, the ECDC is preparing a “risk assessment” on the evolution of the virus to be published “as early as next week,” the agency has indicated, without further precision on a specific date.

The European Union has raised concerns about the disease after several outbreaks of monkeypox were recently reported in less common countries, such as Spain, Belgium, the United States, the United Kingdom and Portugal.

Monkeypox occurs in Central and West Africa, often near tropical forests, and is thought to be endemic to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it was first discovered in humans in 1970.

Most of the cases recorded so far are from men who have had sexual contact with other men. This virus usually causes symptoms similar to smallpox, but milder, although some cases can be severe.

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