Smallpox in monkeys is highly unlikely to be transmitted by carriers and is most commonly transmitted from infected wild animals in western Central Africa.
The illness for most people is mild with full recovery taking up to four weeks, while the chances of getting sick in the UK are currently very low.
According to the NHS, you can get monkeypox if you’re bitten by an infected animal or if you touch its blood, body fluids, spots, blisters or scales.
Transmission from an infected person is rare, but transmission can occur by touching clothing, bedding, towels, or other items used by a person with the rash.
Contact with their blisters or scabs or exposure to their cough or sneeze can also put you at risk.
Health experts say the infection can also be acquired by eating the meat of an infected animal that has not been thoroughly cooked.
It is also possible to contract smallpox in monkeys from touching other products such as the skin or fur of infected animals.
The rare infection is mainly spread by rodents, such as rats, mice and squirrels, in parts of western or central Africa.
If people are traveling to destinations in those regions, they should frequently wash their hands or use hand sanitizer and only eat meat that has been thoroughly cooked.
To further reduce infection, people should not approach wild or stray animals, including those that are dead or appear unwell.
What are the symptoms to watch out for?
It usually takes five to 21 days for symptoms to appear.
Initial symptoms include high temperature, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen glands, shivering, and exhaustion.
The rash will usually appear one to five days after the first symptoms, starting on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body.
It can be confused with chickenpox because it starts with raised bumps.
Symptoms will usually go away after two to four weeks, although some people will need hospital treatment.
