131 cases of the disease have been confirmed so far.

Since first being reported in Africa earlier this month, the new monkeypox virus has somehow found its way to at least 19 other countries. This particular disease is known to spread through close and intimate contact with infected individuals, and symptoms include fever, aches, and swelling. At the time of writing, 131 cases have been confirmed, while 106 cases are suspected.

While the disease is usually not fatal, resolving itself in several weeks, the sudden spread has health officials concerned. According to reports from the WHO and CDC, the disease seems to be passing primarily through sexual contact. While the disease is not sexually transmitted per se, intimate contact has been confirmed to hasten its spread. Gay and bisexual men in particular have been urged to take caution.

While the spread is disconcerting however, health experts believe it is due more to changes in human behavior than mutations in the actual virus. “We’ve never had a [monkeypox] epidemic before which has spread now to 15 countries in three weeks,” Jeremy Farrer, director of global health charity Wellcome, told CNBC.

While health officials are urging everyone to keep an eye on the spread of the virus and be mindful of their health and safety, they do not believe this will reach the same level of viral risk as COVID-19 did.

“That’s not the same as saying public health people shouldn’t be worried. It’s not the same as saying we must not act swiftly. But is it a huge risk to the public? No, I don’t believe it is, as of today,” Farrer said.

The FDA has assured that they have a stockpile of smallpox vaccines, which can fight monkeypox, available to deploy in the United States in the event of an emergency.