A patient having monkeypox (Photo: Reuters/VNA)

More than 100 cases of the viral infection, which spreads through close contact and is usually mild, have recently been reported outside the countries in Africa where it is endemic. Scientists say that there appears to be a low risk to the general public at this time and it could not break out in to an epidemic like COVID-19 because the virus doesn’t spread as fast as SARS-CoV-2. 

European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) has reported on the increasing cases of monkeyfox in the UK and Portugal, and some cases in France, Spain, and Belgium. ECDC recommends medical agencies to isolate, test, and report on suspected cases. It will closely watch the situation and issue a quick assessment report next week.