Kosovo has confirmed its first case of mpox, health authorities announced Friday, identifying the patient as a 30-year-old man who recently returned from a West African country.
The individual was hospitalized on December 24 after experiencing fever, chills and skin changes on his face and hands, according to the Kosovo Institute of Public Health. The patient’s condition is stable, the institute added in a press release.
Authorities have traced everyone who came into contact with the patient and issued guidelines on infection prevention and control measures.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the mpox outbreak as a public health emergency since August, following the spread of the virus from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring regions.
Mpox, usually a mild viral infection, presents symptoms such as fever, headache and skin lesions. Although serious cases are rare, health officials stress the importance of vigilance to prevent further transmission.
