There has been a lot of news lately about Monday Pox and yesterday, the director-general (of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghnreyesus, PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) over road the vote of it's members and elevated the Monkey Pox outbreak to the level of a Global Health Emergency of international concern even though 80% of cases in Europe and a little more than 2,500 cases in the U.S.
First, some basics. Monkey Pox is virus similar to small pox and results in a rash with blistering (a.k.a. pox like blisters/pimples), and it can be very painful. It is a disease is primarily transmitted by male homosexual and male bisexual intercourse and the epidemiology demonstrates that the most recent "outbreak" is as a result of a recent, large international homosexual celebration in the Canary Islands where there were multiple orgies. The participants returned to their homelands and the spread ensued. There have been approximately 16,000 cases in 70 countries with 5 deaths reported. The news reported that 2 infants in the USA tested positive for monkey pox in the past few weeks, but further epidemiological study has revealed that the children were in direct contact with their fathers who tested positive (both fathers were found to have participated in the original event in the Canary Islands).
Should you be concerned? Well, to be blunt, NO! Unless you are participating in the lifestyle that transmits Monkey Pox, or are in a very direct, intimate contact with those actively infected, it is highly unlikely that you would contract the disease.