Monkeypox: What we know about the smallpox-like virus spreading in the UK, Portugal and Spain

Portuguese health authorities on Wednesday confirmed five cases of monkeypox - a rare viral infection related to smallpox - in young men, marking an unusual outbreak in Europe of a disease typically limited to Africa.

Portugal's General Directorate for Health added it was investigating another 15 suspected cases and that all were identified this month around the capital Lisbon.

All the Portuguese cases involve men, most of them young, authorities said.

They have skin lesions and were reported to be in stable condition. Authorities did not say if the men had a history of travel to Africa or any links with recent cases in Britain or elsewhere.

British health authorities said on Monday they had identified four cases of monkeypox infections in London among gay and bisexual men, bringing the total to seven.

Spain’s Health Ministry said on Wednesday it had also detected eight suspected cases of monkeypox that still needed to be confirmed.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) was the first health authority in Europe to publicly report a case of monkeypox on May 7, in a person who had recently flown into the UK from Nigeria.

Since then it has confirmed six more cases and said it was investigating links among four of them, who all appear to have been infected in London and all self-identify as gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with men.

"We are particularly urging men who are gay and bisexual to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions and to contact a sexual health service without delay," said Dr Susan Hopkins, the agency's chief medical adviser.

The UKHSA recommended particularly looking out for lesions on genitalia.

Britain previously reported three earlier cases of monkeypox, two involving people who lived in the same