Argentina has confirmed its first case of monkeypox in a man who arrived from Spain, the health ministry said in a statement on Friday.
“The patient is doing well, being treated symptomatically, and his close contacts are under clinical and epidemiological control, with no symptoms at this time,” he said.
“The sample taken from the first high-probability case is positive, confirming infection with poxviruses belonging to the Eurasian-African orthopoxvirus genus group,” the ministry said.
Genomic sequencing revealed a very high percentage of homology with the West African clade, like those found in new cases worldwide, he added.
The Health Ministry has called on anyone with similar symptoms to wear a mask, maintain social distancing and seek immediate medical attention.
