Spain confirms 59 cases of monkeypox, announces vaccine purchase

OVIEDO. KAZINFORM - Spanish Health Minister Carolina Darias announced Wednesday that Spain will purchase, through the European Union, thousands of smallpox vaccines and antivirals that could work against monkeypox, Anadolu Agency reports.

photo: QAZINFORM

The announcement came as monkeypox cases in Spain rose to 59.

All cases identified in Spain have been mild, according to Darias.

Spain is the second-most affected country by the abnormal outbreak of the virus. The UK has confirmed 78 infections.

In Spain, contact tracers have identified two main focal points of the monkeypox spread -- a gay bathhouse in Madrid and a Pride festival on the Canary Islands.

Individuals in Italy and Slovenia who have tested positive for monkeypox had also traveled to the Canary Islands in Spain.​​​​