Information on Monkeypox

An outbreak of a disease called monkeypox is currently taking place in many countries of the WHO European Region, where cases have not typically been reported in the past.

Anyone who has close contact with someone who is infectious can catch monkeypox, regardless of their sexual orientation.

While everyone can catch monkeypox, not everyone is at equal risk. People who closely interact with someone who is infectious are at greater risk for infection; this includes household members, sexual partners, commercial sex workers and health workers.

Learning about monkeypox and targeting health information and advice to those who are at highest risk of infection will help ensure that as few people as possible are affected and that the outbreak can be stopped.