BRASÍLIA: Brazil has confirmed its first case of monkeypox in a 41-year-old man who had traveled to Europe, the health ministry announced Thursday, reports AFP.  

Monkeypox is a rare disease generally confined to western and central Africa. It is related to but less severe than smallpox, causing a rash that spreads, fever, chills, and aches, among other symptoms.

The first Brazilian person infected had traveled to both Spain and Portugal, the health ministry said in a statement. He was hospitalized for treatment and was in "good condition," it said, adding that his close contacts were under observation.

Brazil is the third Latin American country to register monkeypox cases after Argentina and Mexico.

So far, the WHO says no deaths have been reported in countries where monkeypox is not endemic.