Morocco’s health ministry has confirmed a case of Mpox in a man from Marrakech.
This is the first such finding since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the current outbreak a global public health emergency last month.
That was in response to a new viral kind, which was rapidly spreading throughout central Africa.
The variant of Mpox contracted by the man has not been disclosed by Moroccan authorities.
The health ministry says he is receiving treatment and is in a stable condition.
Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a disease caused by infection with a virus, known as Monkeypox virus. This virus is part of the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. People with mpox often get a rash, along with other symptoms. The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.
Mpox can be spread through close person contact with someone who is infected.
It can also be spread through touching objects which have been contaminated by the virus, such as bedding, clothing and towels.
Treatment involves taking care of the rash, helping manage the pain, and preventing complications, the WHO says.
In 2024, more than 20,000 cases and 500 deaths have been recorded across 14 African countries.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is at the centre of the outbreak with more than 5,000 cases this year.
Vaccines, which are thought to be a vital measure in preventing the spread, have arrived in DR Congo, but because of logistical challenges it could be several weeks before they arrive in the most affected areas in the east of the country.
World Health Organisation Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus while declaring the outbreak as a public health emergency on 14 August, said a coordinated international response was needed to stop these outbreaks to save lives.
