Experts: Risk of monkeypox low to general public

For the first time, monkeypox outbreaks are occurring among people who haven’t traveled to Africa, according to European and U.S. health officials. Cases of the disease rarely surface outside of Africa.

What is monkeypox? The virus originated in wild animals and is endemic in central and west Africa. Most infections cause milder smallpox-like symptoms such as a fever, body aches, chills, and fatigue, though in more severe cases people can develop a rash and lesions. It can be deadly for up to 1 in 10 people, but most people recover without going to the hospital. Cases have arisen in Britain, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden, mostly among men who participated in homosexual activity. One U.S. man who had traveled to Canada also tested positive.

Dig deeper: Read Julie Borg’s comparison in Beginnings between the global response to COVID-19 and SARS.