The Moroccan Ministry of Health announced a confirmed case of MPOX in a man in the city of Marrakech.
This is the first discovery since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern last month.
The move comes in response to the rapid spread of a new variant, or clade, of the virus in Central Africa. Moroccan authorities have not said which variant the man was infected with.
The Ministry of Health said he was receiving treatment and was in stable condition.
Moroccan authorities are tracing and monitoring the health of all those who came into contact with the man, none of whom are showing symptoms, according to a statement released on Thursday afternoon.
Mpox can be transmitted through close contact with an infected person.
The infection can also be spread by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces, such as bedding, clothing, or towels.
The infection may resolve on its own, lasting 14 to 21 days.
But in some cases it can be fatal, especially for vulnerable groups, including young children.
In severe cases, lesions may spread throughout the body, especially around the mouth, eyes, and genitals.
According to the WHO, treatment includes caring for the rash, relieving pain and preventing complications.
In 2024, 14 African countries have recorded more than 20,000 cases and over 500 deaths. The Democratic Republic of Congo is at the epicenter of the outbreak, with more than 5,000 cases this year.
Vaccines, considered a vital measure to prevent the spread of the virus, have arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo but logistical problems mean it could take weeks for them to reach the worst-hit eastern regions.
“It is clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop this outbreak and save lives,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on August 14 when he declared the outbreak a public health emergency.
