The health directorate has issued an alert for all international airports and land ports in Bangladesh to launch monkeypox screening of all incoming passengers from countries where cases have been detected.

Around 80 monkeypox patients have been identified in 11 different countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that more cases may be detected. It said it was still trying to learn more about 50 other suspects without naming any countries.

The World Health Organization was due to hold an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox, a viral infection more common to west and central Africa, after more than 100 cases were confirmed or suspected in Europe.

Several cases of monkeypox have been detected in North America and Europe since early May, sparking concern that the disease, endemic in parts of Africa, is spreading.

Health officials in Spain reported seven cases of monkeypox and Portugal updated its number of confirmed cases to 14 Thursday as an outbreak of a viral disease typically limited to Africa expanded in Europe.