Monkeypox is spreading around the world. What is the disease and how dangerous is it?

An image created during an investigation into an outbreak of monkeypox, which took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1996 to 1997, shows the arms and torso of a patient with skin lesions due to monkeypox, in this undated image obtained by Reuters on May 18, 2022. CDC/Brian W.J. Mahy/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.

A recent outbreak of monkeypox cases is being investigated by health authorities in Europe, the U.S. and Australia.

The U.K., Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Sweden have all reported cases of the disease.

The U.S. and Australia confirmed their first cases this week, as experts try to figure out the cause of the recent spike.

While some cases have been linked to travel from Africa, more recent infections are thought to have spread in the community, raising the risks of a wider outbreak.

Gay and bisexual men are being urged by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and infection and the U.K. Health Security Agency to not have sex with men.

Since the first case was identified on May 7, cases have doubled in the U.K. There are 20 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the country, but there may be many more undetected.

People who have symptoms of the virus are being urged to seek medical advice before visiting a clinic.

The latest cases, together with reports of cases in countries across Europe, confirm our initial concerns that there could be spread of monkeypox within our communities.

The monkeypox virus is part of the same family as smallpox and is a rare disease.

The virus was first detected in captive monkeys in the 1960's. The first human case was recorded in 1970.

Monkeypox reemerged in Nigeria in 2017 after four decades without a single confirmed case. As of May 2022, 450 cases have been reported in the country.

There have been sporadic cases reported across 10 African countries, including Nigeria, which experienced the largest documented outbreak with 172 suspected and 61 confirmed cases. Men aged 21 to 40 years old made up three-quarters of the group.

Cases outside of Africa are usually linked to international travel or imported animals. In 2003 81 cases of prairie dogs were reported in the U.S., and previous cases have been reported in Israel, the U.K., and Singapore.

Monkeypox can be spread when someone comes into close contact with another person, animal or material that has the virus.

The virus can enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or the eyes.

In this 1971 Center For Disease Control handout photo, monkeypox-like lesions are shown on the arm and leg of a female child in Bondua, Liberia.

Respiratory droplets are the most common way of human to human transmission. Bite or scratch can be used to transmit animal to human.

Monkeypox can be passed on during sex, but it is not considered a sexually transmitted disease.

Symptoms of monkeypox include headaches, muscle ache, swelling and back pain.

Patients develop a rash one to three days after the appearance of a high temperature, usually starting on the face and spreading to other parts of the body, such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

The rash goes through several stages before it falls off.

The infection lasts two to four weeks and usually clears up on its own.

Most cases of monkeypox are mild, though there are currently no proven, safe treatments.

People suspected of having the virus may be isolated in a negative pressure room and monitored by healthcare professionals using personal protective equipment.

The palms of a monkeypox case patient from Lodja, a city located within the Katako-Kombe Health Zone, are seen during a health investigation in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997. 

Smallpox vaccines have been shown to be effective in preventing the spread of the virus. The U.K. and Spain are among the countries that offer the vaccine to people who have been exposed to infections.

Some deaths have been reported in west Africa from monkeypox cases.

The risks to the general public are very low and health authorities stress that we are not on the verge of a serious outbreak.

Colin Brown, director of clinical and emerging infections, said that it does not spread easily between people and requires close personal contact with an affected person.

People who experience a new rash or are concerned about monkeypox should contact their healthcare provider.

The UKHSA is reaching out and giving advice to any potential close contacts of cases and healthcare workers who may have come into contact with patients.