Monkeypox Cases are Rising, but the Outbreak is No COVID

The risk of monkeypox infection is rare, and the symptoms relatively mild, experts say

We have all had enough of COVID, so imagine our distress when clusters of monkeypox virus--a cousin to the smallpox virus--began occurring in several European countries and now the  US. Public health officials aren't sure if the clusters are related and and whether monkeypox is spreading in other communities undetected. But the strain of monkeypox uncovered is relatively mild, treatable and not easily transmissible. Experts said the general public doesn't need to be worried at this time. 

Monkeypox viruses generally circulate among wild animals in Central and West Africa, and usually spread to people when they eat or have other close contact with infected animals. The virus usually causes a flu-like illness with fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash. Although monkeypox is not related to chickenpox, the characteristic monkeypox rash looks a lot like it, starting as red spots on the mouth and face, then spreading to the arms and legs.

Check out the full article in Vox, and learn more about what monkeypox is, how it is transmitted, treated and prevented, how this outbreak is being tracked, and how concerned the public should be about this outbreak.