Portugal Registers 66 Cases of New Mpox Strain

In Search of Hope – by Sam Gannon

Seconded to the parish of Tililngdon, the Reverend Dolores has been presented with a challenge.

She’s living in an antiquated house and she’s cold. Furthermore, her new Bishop, Bishop Alice does not approve of ‘showgirls in dog collars.’

Determined to prove the Bishop wrong, she sets about warming her house – who cares if it smells of horse! There is the crochet club, jumble sale, and soup run to organise. And this year, the church bells will ring, no matter what threats are made. Even more so, the newly formed choir will spread a little joy this Christmas, even though they can’t sing – yet! And with a little help from Phil, her bassist, this year could be full of magic.

However, she has a fight on her hands as the townies out in Knob Hill – she must stop calling it that, are trying to stop her from ringing her bells. When Krystal with a K decides to do some volunteer work, Dolores sets out to see just how committed she really is.

Up to her ears in granny squares and squawking choristers, Dolores is revving up for Christmas, yet a deeper darker secret is beginning to emerge!

A secret that could blow the whole parish apart and put Dolores in danger.

(available from Amazon)

Portugal has recorded community transmission of the clade Ib strain of the mpox virus, with 66 cases reported during the latest six-week monitoring period, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report released today.

The WHO said community transmission of clade Ib had also been detected in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, including within sexual networks involving men who have sex with men and sex workers.

Spain has recorded the highest cumulative number of clade Ib cases in Europe, with 241 infections, followed by France with 173, Portugal with 162 and Germany with 140.

A country is classified as experiencing community transmission when at least one case reported during the previous six weeks cannot be linked to recent travel or contact with a traveller from an affected country during the incubation period. The classification applies regardless of the total number of cases detected.

During the latest six-week period, Portugal reported 66 cases, the highest number among the European countries listed. Germany recorded 24, France 20, the United Kingdom 18 and Ireland 12.

The most recent monthly information available from Portugal’s Directorate-General for Health dates from the 31st of May 2025. At that time, the country had recorded three mpox outbreaks since May 2022, involving 1,236 confirmed infections and two deaths.

Lusa requested a response from the DGS regarding the latest WHO figures but had received no reply at the time of publication.

A rapid global risk assessment conducted by the WHO in August concluded that the threat posed by mpox remained moderate, with new outbreaks continuing to emerge and more than 1,000 confirmed cases being reported worldwide each month.

In July, 32 countries across four WHO regions reported 1,370 confirmed cases and seven deaths. Approximately three-quarters of the infections were recorded in Africa.

Common symptoms can include a rash, fever, headache, muscle and back pain, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. The virus can spread through close physical contact with an infected person, including contact with lesions or bodily fluids, as well as through contaminated materials such as bedding, towels and personal items.

Samantha Gannon

info at madeira-weekly.com

Photo: JM

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