4 answers to key questions about the monkeypox outbreak
More than 300 people in 21 countries outside Africa have been infected with the disease
An outbreak of monkeypox has some people worried that the world is on the brink of another pandemic. That’s not likely, experts say.
The concern has been fueled by more than 300 confirmed or suspected cases of the disease cropping up in 21 countries outside Africa, where the disease is endemic, since May 7. It’s the most widespread outbreak of the disease, which causes flulike symptoms, such as fever, headaches and body aches, as well as profound weakness, back pain, swollen lymph nodes and rashes that erupt into pus-filled blisters. And more cases are being added daily to a database maintained by Global.health, a group that tracks infectious diseases.