Monkeypox is spreading around the world — what threats can humanity expect?

The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a “public health emergency of international concern” corresponding to the highest level of danger. Monkeypox is spread through close personal contact, often skin-to-skin. The disease can spread through direct contact with the rashes or body fluids of an infected person. Given the wide geographic distribution of the disease, the actual number of cases will be unknown. Anyone can get monkeypox, but to date most confirmed cases outside of endemic areas in Africa have occurred in young or middle-aged men who have sex with men who have recently had sex with new or multiple partners.