The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States raised the monkeypox alert level on Monday, advising travelers to wear masks.
He did warn, however, that monkeypox was not on the same level of concern as COVID-19.
Patients with monkeypox experienced flu-like symptoms before developing a painful rash, lesions, and swollen lymph nodes.
According to the World Health Organization, the incubation period between exposure and the onset of symptoms can range from five to 21 days.
The CDC said cases have been reported on every continent aside from Antarctica.
“Some cases were reported among men who have sex with men.
“Some cases were also reported in people who live in the same household as an infected person,” the CDC said.
Experts said a number of sexually transmitted infections present similar symptoms and the real number of infections could be higher.
The agency reported 31 confirmed cases in the U.S. as of Monday afternoon.
The first reported cases in Washington, D.C., came on Sunday.