How dangerous is it? Monkeypox is a virus than typically causes mild symptoms including fever, aches and pus-filled skin lesions.
People tend to recover within two to four weeks, according to the WHO. Anyone can spread the virus, but the current outbreak outside of Africa is concentrated almost exclusively among men who have sex with men.
Monkeypox spreads primarily via intimate skin-to-skin contact, usually with someone who has an active rash, as well as via contact with contaminated clothes or bedding.
It is not as easily transmitted as the SARS-CoV-2 virus that spurred the COVID-19 pandemic. "COVID is spread by respiratory route and is highly infectious.