Sharon Alroy-Preis, the chief of public health services at the ministry, told Israel Army Radio on Sunday that medical teams were investigating other suspected cases of monkeypox.

The case of Israel appeared to be the first to be identified in the Middle East.

The World Health Organization has identified about 80 cases worldwide and about 50 more suspected cases.

Cases of the smallpox-related disease have previously only been seen in people with ties to Central and West Africa. But Britain, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the US, Sweden and Canada all reported infections, mostly in young men who had not previously traveled to Africa. France, Germany, Belgium and Australia have also identified cases.

The virus originates from primates and other wild animals and causes fever, body aches, chills and fatigue in most patients. People with severe cases may develop rashes and lesions on the face, hands, and other parts of the body.