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Rare Monkeypox Outbreaks Detected in N.America, Europe

Multiple cases of monkeypox in Europe, the UK, Canada and the United States have health authorities worried that the dangerous, though usually not life-threatening, disease could be spreading Cole Burston AFP/File
Multiple cases of monkeypox in Europe, the UK, Canada and the United States have health authorities worried that the dangerous, though usually not life-threatening, disease could be spreading Cole Burston AFP/File
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Rare Monkeypox Outbreaks Detected in N.America, Europe

Multiple cases of monkeypox in Europe, the UK, Canada and the United States have health authorities worried that the dangerous, though usually not life-threatening, disease could be spreading Cole Burston AFP/File
Multiple cases of monkeypox in Europe, the UK, Canada and the United States have health authorities worried that the dangerous, though usually not life-threatening, disease could be spreading Cole Burston AFP/File

Health authorities in North America and Europe have detected dozens of suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox since early May, sparking concern the disease endemic in parts of Africa is spreading.

Canada was the latest country to report it was investigating more than a dozen suspected cases of monkeypox, after Spain and Portugal detected more than 40 possible and verified cases, AFP said.

Britain has confirmed nine cases since May 6, and the United States verified its first on Wednesday, saying a man in the eastern state of Massachusetts had tested positive for the virus after visiting Canada.

The illness, from which most people recover within several weeks and has only been fatal in rare cases, has infected thousands of people in parts of Central and Western Africa in recent years but is rare in Europe and North Africa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday it was coordinating with UK and European health officials over the new outbreaks.

"We really need to better understand the extent of monkeypox in endemic countries... to really understand how much is circulating and the risk that it poses for people who are living there, as well as the risk of exportation," infectious disease epidemiologist Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove said at a WHO press conference on Tuesday on global health issues.

The first case in Britain was someone who had traveled from Nigeria, though later cases were possibly through community transmission, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in a statement.

"These latest cases, together with reports of cases in countries across Europe, confirms our initial concerns that there could be spread of monkeypox within our communities," said UKHSA Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Susan Hopkins.

The WHO said it was also investigating that many cases reported were people identifying as gay, bisexual or men who have sex with men.

"We are seeing transmission among men having sex with men," said WHO Assistant Director-General Dr. Soce Fall at the press conference.

"This is new information we need to investigate properly to understand better the dynamic of local transmission in the UK and some other countries."

- 'No risk to the public' -
The UKHSA noted that monkeypox has not previously been characterized as a sexually transmitted disease, underscoring that "it can be passed on by direct contact during sex."

"Anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, can spread monkeypox through contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, or shared items (such as clothing and bedding) that have been contaminated with fluids or sores of a person with monkeypox," a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statement said Wednesday, adding that household disinfectants can kill the virus on surfaces.

The illness often starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever, muscle ache and swollen lymph nodes before causing a chickenpox-like rash on the face and body, the US agency explained.

The Massachusetts Department of Health, said that the case there -- the first confirmed this year in the United States -- occurred in a patient who had recently traveled to Canada and "poses no risk to the public, and the individual is hospitalized and in good condition."

Health authorities in Canada's Quebec province announced they were investigating at least 13 suspected cases of monkeypox, the public broadcaster CBC reported Wednesday.

The cases were flagged to Montreal authorities after diagnoses were made in several clinics specializing in sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) told CBC it had called on "public health authorities and laboratory partners across Canada to be alert for and investigate any potential cases."

According to the CDC, there were no reported cases of monkeypox for 40 years before it re-emerged in Nigeria in 2017.

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Varieties

Vets Bid to Save Kosovo's Stray Dogs from Cull Through Sterilization

Stray dogs sit inside cages waiting to be released after a sterilization process carried out by animal rights organization Four Paws near the town of Podujevo on May 19, 2026. (Photo by Armend NIMANI / AFP)
Stray dogs sit inside cages waiting to be released after a sterilization process carried out by animal rights organization Four Paws near the town of Podujevo on May 19, 2026. (Photo by Armend NIMANI / AFP)
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Vets Bid to Save Kosovo's Stray Dogs from Cull Through Sterilization

Stray dogs sit inside cages waiting to be released after a sterilization process carried out by animal rights organization Four Paws near the town of Podujevo on May 19, 2026. (Photo by Armend NIMANI / AFP)
Stray dogs sit inside cages waiting to be released after a sterilization process carried out by animal rights organization Four Paws near the town of Podujevo on May 19, 2026. (Photo by Armend NIMANI / AFP)

Panting puppies lie exhausted, wedged between the plastic bags and cartons spilling down a hillside in northern Kosovo, while other dogs snuffle around the dump hunting for edible morsels.

The sheer number of canines roaming free has become bothersome, and locals in the Podujevo district have drafted in experts to solve the problem "in the most humane way possible", according to vet Albatrit Halili.

He is part of a team of local veterinarians led by the Four Paws NGO who are sterilizing and vaccinating the mutts to keep the population under control.

Some estimates put their number at 50,000 in the tiny Balkan country, sandwiched between Serbia, Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

"I believe this program is the only viable solution," said Halili.

The animals don't seem to mind -- one puppy wags its tail and bounces playfully as its cage is loaded into a van, while another enjoys having its coat ruffled by the vets.

Certainly they are better off this way than the more customary practice of culling, AFP reported.

And as there are not enough shelters to house them, these animals will be released and able to return to their life roaming the rubbish dumps.

Podujevo, which shares a long border with Serbia, is one of the worst-affected areas.

"In the absence of cross-border cooperation, the dogs can move around, sometimes on their territory, sometimes on ours," said Podujevo mayor Shpejtim Bulliqi.

This makes it difficult, he says, to even count the number of dogs.

But Luciana D'Abramo from Four Paws is confident that they will succeed, partly because the local community is on board with the campaign.

"We knew that there were lots of (attempts) and lots of goodwill to find solutions," she said, but the latest effort would be longer-term and better planned.

Varieties

Bangladesh's 'Donald Trump' Buffalo Wins Fans

This photograph taken on May 17, 2026 shows a caretaker attending an albino buffalo nicknamed "Donald Trump" for sale ahead of Eid al-Adha at a livestock farm in Narayanganj. (Photo by Salahuddin AHMED / AFP)
This photograph taken on May 17, 2026 shows a caretaker attending an albino buffalo nicknamed "Donald Trump" for sale ahead of Eid al-Adha at a livestock farm in Narayanganj. (Photo by Salahuddin AHMED / AFP)
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Bangladesh's 'Donald Trump' Buffalo Wins Fans

This photograph taken on May 17, 2026 shows a caretaker attending an albino buffalo nicknamed "Donald Trump" for sale ahead of Eid al-Adha at a livestock farm in Narayanganj. (Photo by Salahuddin AHMED / AFP)
This photograph taken on May 17, 2026 shows a caretaker attending an albino buffalo nicknamed "Donald Trump" for sale ahead of Eid al-Adha at a livestock farm in Narayanganj. (Photo by Salahuddin AHMED / AFP)

Crowds in Bangladesh are flocking to snap photographs with an unlikely social media star -- an albino buffalo with flowing blond hair nicknamed "Donald Trump" due to be sacrificed within days.

Owner Zia Uddin Mridha, 38, said his brother named the 700 kilogram (1,500 pound) bull over its flowing helmet of hair resembling the signature look of the US president.

"My younger brother picked this name because of the buffalo's extraordinary hair," he told AFP at his farm in Narayanganj, just outside the capital Dhaka.

Mridha said a constant stream of curious visitors -- social media fans, onlookers and children -- have come throughout May, eager to see the internet sensation.

He watched as men poured a cool bucket of water over the bull's head, running a pink brush through its blond combover, neatly tucked between sweeping curved horns.

"The only luxury he enjoys is bathing four times a day," Mridha said, stressing that the similarities between the bull and the president stopped at the hair.

This photograph taken on May 17, 2026 shows an albino buffalo nicknamed "Donald Trump" for sale ahead of Eid al-Adha at a livestock farm in Narayanganj. (Photo by Salahuddin AHMED / AFP)

Officials from the livestock department said albino buffaloes are extremely rare, and appear white or pink due to a lack of melanin production.

Muslim-majority Bangladesh, a South Asian nation of 170 million people, is preparing for Eid al-Adha later this month.

More than 12 million livestock -- including goats, sheep, cows and buffaloes -- are expected to be sacrificed during the holiday, when many poorer families get a rare chance to feast on meat.

Mridha said the stress of the crowds had caused the buffalo to lose weight, forcing restrictions on public viewing.

Still, children continue to peer through the gates for a glimpse.

Businessman Faisal Ahmed, 30, was among those who managed to get close, snapping photographs.

"Truly, the features are similar between the buffalo and President Donald Trump," Ahmed told AFP, after arriving with five friends and relatives to see the animal.

"My nephew took a one-hour boat journey just to come and see 'Donald Trump'," he added.

This photograph taken on May 17, 2026 shows content creators shooting videos of an albino buffalo nicknamed "Donald Trump" for sale ahead of Eid al-Adha at a livestock farm in Narayanganj. (Photo by Salahuddin AHMED / AFP)

While the Trump buffalo has become a national star online, it is not the only buffalo with a nickname.

His companions include an aggressive bull named "Tufan", meaning "storm", a generously sized animal called "Fat Boy" and the gentle-natured "Sweet Boy".

One golden-haired bull was named after Brazilian footballer Neymar for his bleached-blond cut.

Mridha, who has cared for his four-year-old buffalo for the past year, looked with affection at the animal, snuffling through a bowl of fodder.

"I am going to miss Donald Trump, but that is the core spirit of Eid al-Adha -- making a sacrifice."

Varieties

Saudi Traveler Showcases Al-Ahsa’s Beauty and the Rise of Solo Camping Adventures

Traveler Salwa Ibrahim climbing the rock formations of AlUla (Traveler’s Archive) 
Traveler Salwa Ibrahim climbing the rock formations of AlUla (Traveler’s Archive) 
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Saudi Traveler Showcases Al-Ahsa’s Beauty and the Rise of Solo Camping Adventures

Traveler Salwa Ibrahim climbing the rock formations of AlUla (Traveler’s Archive) 
Traveler Salwa Ibrahim climbing the rock formations of AlUla (Traveler’s Archive) 

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has undergone a transformation in the way travel is perceived. Journeys are no longer viewed simply as movement from one place to another, but as immersive cultural experiences that deepen people’s connection to places and redefine the meaning of discovery. Interest in overland travel and camping has grown steadily, evolving into a lifestyle rooted in environmental awareness and respect for nature.

This shift has been driven in part by the Kingdom’s remarkable geographic diversity — from sweeping deserts and lush valleys to dramatic coastlines — creating an ideal environment for exploration and outdoor adventure.

Solo travel, in particular, has emerged as a powerful form of self-discovery, where camping is no longer a casual pastime, but an experience built on careful planning, openness to uncertainty, and a balance between safety and adventure.

Saudi traveler and content creator Salwa Ibrahim has made local geography the focus of her work. Specializing in highlighting tourism destinations across Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim says her goal is to help audiences experience places as she did — emotionally as much as visually.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Ibrahim said that despite the growing accessibility of international destinations, she remains deeply connected to the region she calls home.

“My primary focus has been Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries because of the richness of their landscapes,” she said. “I documented these places through a series called The Other Side, where I showcase unconventional destinations and experiences beyond the usual tourist routes. There are astonishing places across Saudi Arabia that many people still know very little about.”

Unlike tightly scheduled travel itineraries, Ibrahim prefers a slower, more immersive approach.

“I don’t rely on a strict daily schedule,” she said. “I give myself enough time to absorb a place fully. I might spend two or three nights in one location, or even several days if I feel it deserves more time.”

She pointed to Wadi Al-Disah as one destination she has returned to repeatedly throughout her travels.

Among the places that have left the strongest impression on her are three major valleys in Saudi Arabia, each defined by its own distinct landscape and atmosphere. Ibrahim described Wadi Al-Disah as a vast natural sanctuary surrounded by towering mountains, threaded with green pathways and seasonal streams that create an environment strikingly different from the surrounding desert.

Wadi Tayyib Al-Ism, she said, is distinguished by the dramatic meeting of jagged mountain formations and the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba, creating a rare harmony between contrasting natural elements. As for Wadi Lajab, Ibrahim called it “a sensory experience in itself,” where visitors pass through a narrow rocky canyon flanked by soaring cliffs and flowing water.

She also described the Bajdah Desert in the Tabuk region as “one of the most visually surreal places” in Saudi Arabia, citing the interplay of red mountains, sand dunes, and complex geological formations, as well as the abundance of natural caves that make the area ideal for advanced exploration.

Ibrahim said her Jeep Wrangler four-wheel-drive vehicle was essential to launching these journeys.

“My Jeep Wrangler was a fundamental part of the experience,” she stated. “It allowed me to reach places that smaller vehicles simply cannot access.”

Her trips begin long before she sets out on the road. Preparation, she explained, involves more than logistics; it requires complete mental readiness. Her planning process includes studying maps and access routes, pinpointing campsites, saving emergency contacts, coordinating with trusted local guides, and packing enough food supplies and practical cooking equipment to minimize risks during each trip.

Despite her meticulous planning, Ibrahim intentionally leaves room for spontaneity.

“Some of the most memorable experiences come from unexpected changes in direction,” she said. “Those moments often lead me to places that were never part of the original plan.”

That balance between discipline and flexibility has become central to her style of travel and exploration.

Ibrahim selects destinations through a combination of research, recommendations from followers on social media, and personal intuition, which she says often plays a decisive role in her final decisions. She relies heavily on mapping applications and advice from local guides, while also paying close attention to recurring suggestions from her audience.

In her interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ibrahim stressed that Al-Ahsa holds a particularly special place in her work. More than just another stop on her travels, the region has become a personal project through which she hopes to reshape visual perceptions of the area. Al-Ahsa is also her hometown.

“I don’t present palm trees as a stereotypical image,” she said. “I try to convey a complete experience that reflects Al-Ahsa’s unique diversity. The region is home to millions of palm trees and multiple landscapes that coexist within one area, alongside vast deserts stretching toward the Rub’ al Khali and Al-Dahna, as well as a coastal extension. This overlap makes Al-Ahsa one of the richest natural environments in Saudi Arabia.”

Ibrahim’s philosophy of travel goes beyond sightseeing. She believes beauty is not defined by a destination’s popularity, but by a traveler’s emotional connection to it. In her view, even simple or lesser-known places can hold extraordinary value for those who connect with them deeply.

She cited AlUla as one example, describing its rock formations and mountains as possessing a uniquely powerful visual and spiritual presence.

Solo travel, however, was not easy at first. Ibrahim said fear accompanied her during her earliest camping trips, prompting her to stay close to main roads for safety. Over time, those fears evolved into a turning point that shaped both her personal and professional life.

As solo travel became a defining part of her identity, its impact extended into her work as a nurse, strengthening her ability to make decisions and handle pressure with confidence.

Ibrahim’s experience reflects the high levels of safety found across Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region, though she emphasizes that awareness and personal responsibility remain essential — particularly for young women interested in solo travel or camping. Advance planning, choosing familiar destinations, and avoiding isolated areas without sufficient experience are all critical to ensuring a safe experience.

Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector has also seen significant development in recent years, including the expansion of designated camping facilities and stronger tourism infrastructure. These changes have helped foster a growing culture of overland travel and exploration, positioning the Kingdom as an increasingly attractive destination for travelers from within Saudi Arabia and abroad, especially during the winter season.