How to protect yourself against monkeypox and what to do if you catch it

Test tubes labelled “Monkeypox virus positive and negative” are seen in this illustration taken May 23, 2022. 

A recent monkeypox outbreak across the U.S., Europe, Australia and the Middle East has baffled health experts and is raising concerns of a wider outbreak.

In 22 countries outside of Africa, there are 343 confirmed and suspected cases of the virus, according to Our World in Data.

It is the first community spread of the virus. Prior to this outbreak, cases had been linked to travel to regions where the virus is endemic.

The majority of new cases have been spread through sex, with a particular concentration of men who have sex with other men. Anyone could be at risk of contracting the virus, according to the World Health Organization. Children, pregnant woman and the immunocompromised are at risk.

According to a release on the WHO website, anyone who has close contact with someone who is infectious is at risk.

The monkeypox virus is part of the same family as smallpox and is a rare disease. The vaccine against smallpox is 85% effective.

mass vaccinations would not be required to combat the outbreak according to the WHO. The public health body urged people to practice good hygiene and safe sex in order to control the spread of the disease.

Health experts agree that the risks to the general public are low, but there are precautions you can take to reduce your risk.

Recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.K. National Health Service.

• Avoid coming into contact with people recently diagnosed with the virus or those who may have been infected.

• Wear a face mask if you are in close contact with someone who has symptoms.

• Use condoms and keep an eye out for symptoms if you have recently changed sexual partners.

• Avoid coming into contact with animals that could be carrying the virus. This includes sick or dead animals and particularly those with a history of infection, such as monkeys, rodents and prairie dogs.

• Practice good hand hygiene, especially after coming into contact with infected — or suspected infected —animals or humans. For instance, wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients with confirmed or suspected monkeypox infection.

• Only eat meat that has been cooked thoroughly.

This 2003 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows mature, oval-shaped monkeypox virions, left, and spherical immature virions, right, obtained from a sample of human skin associated with the 2003 prairie dog outbreak.

It's wise to avoid coming into contact with materials that have been in contact with a sick human or animal because Monkeypox can be transmitted via surfaces and materials.

The virus can live on objects like blankets, so it's super stable outside the human host, according to Dr. Scott Gottlieb.

Good practice would be to wash clothing and bedsheets at high temperature.

He doesn't think it's necessary for the general public to avoid public areas, taxis, shopping and hotels.

The general population doesn't need to take a lot of precautions.

If you suspect that you have contracted monkeypox, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Initial symptoms of monkeypox include a high temperature, headaches, muscle ache, swelling and back pain. Within one to five days, the skin on the face, hands, feet, eyes, mouth and genitals will begin to show signs of irritation. Those blisters may fill with white fluid before they break and scabbing over.

In this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention handout graphic, symptoms of one of the first known cases of the monkeypox virus are shown on a patient’s hand May 27, 2003.

Medical confirmation is important because many of the symptoms of the virus can be confused with other diseases.

If you are diagnosed with monkeypox, you will need to stay isolated. Most people recover within 2 to 4 weeks.

The U.K.'s National Health Service notes that you may need to stay in a specialist hospital if you get sick.