North Macedonia has confirmed its first two cases of Mpox virus infection as of Friday, according to the Public Health Institute. Notably, neither patient reported any recent travel history.
The infected individuals are two men, born in 1985 and 1981 respectively, both from the capital city of Skopje, and they are not connected to each other, stated Marija Andonovska, the director of the Institute, during a press conference.
Health Secretary Jovica Andovski urged citizens to “remain calm,” emphasizing that this disease is not new and that established protocols for treatment are in place.
Mpox, caused by a virus related to smallpox, primarily manifests with high fever and skin lesions known as vesicles. Initially identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1970, the disease had largely remained confined to approximately ten African countries for many years.
In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its highest level of alert regarding this outbreak. Current data indicates that between 0.1% and 10% of individuals infected with Mpox have succumbed to the illness, with mortality rates varying based on access to healthcare and levels of immunosuppression.
