We are starting to see some monkeypox cases in other groups besides men who have sex with men.

For instance, they are beginning to appear in women and children. Though ~99% of cases still are among men who have sex with men.

Transmission has mostly been from close sustained skin to skin contact with the monkeypox lesions, primarily in this outbreak via sexual contact. Some cases have also occurred from household transmission, especially the spillover cases to kids.

Monkeypox doesn't spread as easily as the coronavirus. Airborne transmission hasn't been documented. Close sustained contact is generally required, and typically via skin to skin contact. Less so from respiratory droplets and fomites. So people should be mindful especially of sexual and other close physical contact, particularly if they are among a group currently at high risk of exposure.

There's a tactful way to discuss this outbreak. I think framing it by exposure risk is helpful. Anyone can potentially get infected by monkeypox, but the highest exposure risk currently is among men who have sex with men with multiple partners. This group of MSM and known contacts of infected are prioritized for the vaccine as supplies are currently limited. In much the same way we might think of the risk of Measles exposure being higher in a country where it is endemic or the risk of HIV exposure being higher among intravenous drug users. That doesn't mean those viruses only pose a risk to those groups, but they are groups that face higher risk of exposure.

These social networks don't exist in a vacuum though, so as this outbreak evolves we may see other groups get infected.

Fortunately the monkeypox vaccines can be effective before and after infection. And we have an antiviral TPOXX that can be used for those at high risk for severe disease and complications.

No need to panic, but awareness is important. This disease can be contained.