Aragon has registered a new case of monkeypox this week, as reported this Thursday in the Epidemiological Bulletin of the Government of Aragon. This latest positive has been reported in the province of Zaragoza and, with it, there are already 31 cases that have been registered in the community so far this year, well above the figures of previous years.
The first cases in 2026 appeared in isolation, with a positive in mid-February. The rebound began to become more visible in May, when seven infections were reported, and June left another six. July, at the moment, is the month with the highest number of cases, and in the last three weeks, a total of 11 cases of monkeypox have been reported. August follows closely and, in its first three weeks, another six cases have already been reported.
The 31 positives accumulated in 2026 are more than four times the seven recorded during the whole of 2025. The figure also far exceeds the five infections in 2023, while in 2024 no cases of this disease were reported in the community. The current balance is still far from that reached in 2022, the year in which the large international outbreak occurred and Aragon recorded 74 cases.
WHAT IS MONKEYPOX?
Monkeypox, officially called mpox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It belongs to the orthopoxvirus family, the same one that includes the smallpox virus, although they are different diseases and, generally, mpox is less severe.
The main route of transmission is close physical contact with an infected person, especially with their lesions, scabs, body fluids or mucous membranes. Transmission occurs mainly through «sexual contact», although it can also be spread through kissing, skin-to-skin contact, respiratory secretions during close and prolonged contact or through contaminated objects, such as clothing, sheets and towels.
Its most characteristic manifestation is a rash on the skin or mucous membranes, which can appear on the face, hands, feet, mouth, or genital and anal areas. The lesions progress to form vesicles, pustules, and scabs and can be painful. The infection can also cause fever, headache, tiredness, muscle and back discomfort, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. Symptoms usually last between two and four weeks, although their intensity varies from person to person.
In most cases it is not a serious illness and people recover without specific treatment, focusing on relieving symptoms and caring for injuries. However, in some cases, complications may arise, especially in vulnerable people, so hospitalization and antiviral treatment under medical supervision may be required.
A CASE OF E. COLI
Public Health has also reported a case of infection with strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) that produce Shiga or Vero toxin in the province of Zaragoza. This infection is one of the most common causes of severe gastroenteritis in humans, especially in children and the elderly.
Contagion usually occurs through the consumption of contaminated food, such as undercooked minced meat, raw milk or unwashed fruits and vegetables, although it can also be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals or between people, in environments such as nurseries or residences.
Common symptoms include diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, low-grade fever, and in some cases, vomiting. In severe infections, especially in children under five years of age, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication that affects the kidneys, can develop. The approach is based on medical support, with rehydration and hospital follow-up in the most serious cases.
