Cuatro años de vigilancia epidemiológica de mpox en España, 2022-2025

Victoria Hernando; Sara Gayol; Carol Ingrid Castellares; Hector Sanchez-Herrero; Sonia Fernandez-Balbuena; Asuncion Diaz

doi:10.4321/s2173-92772026000200003

Authors

Victoria Hernando National Epidemiology Centre
Sara Gayol National Epidemiology Centre
Carol Ingrid Castellares National Epidemiology Centre
Hector Sanchez-Herrero Ministry of Health
Sonia Fernandez-Balbuena Ministry of Health
Asuncion Diaz Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red , National Epidemiology Centre

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4321/s2173-92772026000200003

Keywords:

mpox; epidemiological surveillance; clade

Abstract

Introduction: The first cases of mpox were identified in Europe in May 2022, and transmission has continued in our region ever since. The objective was to compare the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of mpox cases in Spain between 2022 and 2025.

Method: Descriptive analysis of cases reported to the National Public Health Surveillance Network between 2022-2025. The distribution of clinical and epidemiological variables was compared according to the year of symptom onset or diagnosis.

Results: A total of 9.355 cases were notified, of them 7,521 cases were reported in 2022(80.4%), 325 in 2023 (3.5%), 695 in 2024 (7.4%) and 814 in 2025 (8.7%). The 97.7% were men, with a median age of 37 years (IQR: 31-44). The percentage of those born in Spain varied between 46.5% (2022) and 32.2% (2025). In 2022, 73.2% presented general symptoms compared to 62.1% in 2025, with fever being the most common symptom (55.4%). Overall, 65.3% presented with anogenital rash and between 4-6% were hospitalised. There were four deaths, three in 2022 and one in 2025. The main mode of transmission was close contact during sexual intercourse (66.6% in 2022 and 80.1% in 2025); 68%–78% were men who had sex with men. Between 2023 and 2025, 9.3% of cases were vaccinated against mpox. A total of 57 cases of clade I have been reported.

Conclusions: The clinical and epidemiological characteristics have remained broadly stable since 2022, with slight variations, against a backdrop of the recent emergence of clade I.

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