Given that it affects the rest of the world in addition to countries in west and central Africa, monkeypox is a disease of worldwide public health significance. Close contact with respiratory secretions, skin sores on an infected person, or recently contaminated objects can cause human-to-human transmission. Health professionals, family members, and other close contacts of current patients are more at risk because droplet respiratory particles typically require extended face-to-face contact. Learn more: monkeypox test