How do you catch monkeypox? What we know about virus transmission as cases rise

Cases of the monkeypox virus are rising in the UK with health experts suggesting it is spreading through communities. The UKHSA is now advising people who have been in close contact with someone known to have the virus to self-isolate for 21 days to help prevent further transmission.

There are now 56 confirmed cases in England, and Scotland confirmed its first case on Monday. Health officials said that while the outbreak is “significant and concerning”, the risk to the UK population remains low.

It is not always clear how viruses such as monkeypox are spread. But fortunately, health experts already have a firm grasp on how monkeypox transmits from person to person.

Read more: Is there a test for monkeypox?

Despite the rise in cases, monkeypox does not spread easily between people, according to the government website. The virus is generally transmitted when an infected person, animal, or material comes into close contact with another person.

Despite this, monkeypox is yet to be detected in animals in the UK, suggesting it is being spread person-to-person. The virus enters the body through broken skin - which may not always be visible - as well as the respiratory tract and mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose and mouth.

While uncommon, transmission between people may occur through:

According to health officials, a large proportion of cases are being identified in the gay, bisexual and men who have sex with other men community. Monkeypox is not normally a sexually transmitted infection, but it can be passed on by direct contact during sex.

Professor David Heymann, the World Health Organisation’s former assistant director-general for health security and environment, is reported to have said a leading theory to explain