A 61-year-old man who was hospitalized for an oncological illness has died at the Donostia University Hospital in San Sebastián, after contracting monkeypox during his hospitalization. The patient had other serious pathologies, and the medical authorities of the center have not confirmed that the infection by the mpox virus was the cause of his death.
The contagion occurred after the man shared a room with another patient who had the infection. According to the information disseminated after the explanations from health authorities, the diagnosis of the second patient was known later, and the corresponding isolation measures were activated.
The medical management of the Hospital and the head of Infectious Diseases have explained that they cannot directly attribute the death to monkeypox. The patient's prior clinical situation, who was being treated for cancer and other serious illnesses, prevents establishing that relationship with the information available.
After detecting the episode, the center activated follow-up measures for contacts. More than 30 people, mainly healthcare professionals, received the vaccine and were under surveillance for 21 days. The hospital authorities considered it unlikely that new infections related to this case would occur.
What is monkeypox and how is it transmitted
Monkeypox, also known as simian smallpox or mpox, is a infectious disease caused by the MPXV virus, belonging to the genus of orthopoxviruses. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that it usually manifests through rashes or skin lesions, fever, headache, muscle aches, and swelling of the lymph nodes. Symptoms can appear between one and 21 days after exposure.
Transmission occurs mainly through close contact with an infected person. This includes direct contact with skin lesions, intimate physical contact, and certain face-to-face exposures, which may involve infectious respiratory particles. It is also possible to contract the virus through contaminated objects, such as clothing or bedding.
The majority of people who suffer from monkeypox recover in a few weeks, but the disease can cause serious complications and even death in some cases. The WHO notes that children, pregnant women, and people with a weakened immune system may be at greater risk of developing severe forms.
Contact tracing for 21 days corresponds to the period in which symptoms may appear after exposure. The WHO recommends that people who have been in contact with a case monitor their health during that time and follow the guidelines of health authorities.