Human infection with monkeypox is usually transmitted from animal to human, and human-to-human transmission of monkeypox can also occur. The main causes of monkeypox infection in humans are bites from infected animals, or infection through direct contact with blood, body fluids, or skin lesions from infected animals. Human-to-human transmission is less common, but can still occur and is generally thought to occur through large numbers of respiratory droplets containing the virus during direct, prolonged face-to-face contact. Alternatively, monkeypox can be spread through direct contact with body fluids of an infected person or with virus-contaminated items such as clothing and bedding. Monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease that used to occur mainly in Africa. Cases of related infections have been reported in the United Kingdom and the United States since May 2022. There is no specific drug for treating monkeypox, so it is recommended to take good precautions and avoid contact with wild animals as much as possible.