Health authorities in Canada's Quebec are probing more than a dozen suspected cases of monkeypox public broadcaster CBC was quoted by ndtv.com on Wednesday.

The United States also confirmed one case "in a man who had recently travelled to Canada, after European health officials confirmed dozens of cases earlier this week."

Public health authorities in Quebec are looking into 13 cases. According to CBC confirmation is expected in a few days.

In United States, Massachusetts authorities and the CDC confirmed the country's first case this year on Wednesday.

"The case poses no risk to the public, and the individual is hospitalized and in good condition," a statement from the Massachusetts Department of Health.

"Several cases including clusters detected in Portugal, Spain and Britain - where monkeypox is rare are erupting within sexual networks," said Inger Damon, a poxvirus expert with the CDC, in an agency statement.

Most of the European cases have been found in homosexuals though CDC emphasised that "anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, can spread monkeypox."

Since May 6, nine cases of monkeypox have been traced in United Kingdom,and Spain and Portugal have identified more than 40 suspected or confirmed cases.