Vax Before Travel Spain, a favorite destination for international travelers in 2026, is currently facing a concerning rise in mpox (monkeypox) cases within the European Union.
Health authorities have reported an increase in infections primarily linked to the more transmissible clade Ib variant of the monkeypox virus (MPXV).
According to the latest update from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on February 18, 2026, Spain has confirmed 84 mpox cases in 2026.
Most of Spain’s cases (36 out of 84) involve the MPXV clade Ib strain, which is known for its higher transmissibility compared to the clade II variant that was responsible for the global outbreak in 2022.
This ECDC data for week #8 makes Spain the hardest-hit country in the EU/EEA region, with a total of 255 cases reported across 10 countries during the same timeframe.
MPXV cases are distributed across multiple regions, indicating widespread community transmission rather than isolated clusters.
Specific city-level breakdowns in Spain for 2026 remain limited in public reports. Still, patterns point to urban centers, such as Madrid, which has been a primary hotspot, consistent with historical trends and the location of the initial autochthonous clade Ib case identified in October 2025.