Some monitors saw community transmission taking place in the London area as of mid-May,[11] but it has been suggested that cases were already spreading in Europe in the previous months.

It is believed to be transmitted by close contact with sick people, with extra caution for those individuals with lesions on their skin or genitals, along with their bedding and clothing.

[13] In addition to more common symptoms, such as fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and rashes or lesions, some patients have also experienced proctitis, an inflammation of the rectum lining.

CDC has also warned clinicians to not rule out mpox in patients with sexually transmitted infections since there have been reports of co-infections with syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and herpes.

[14] The first known case was detected in the beginning of May 2022, in a British resident who had travelled to Lagos and Delta State in Nigeria,[10] in areas where mpox is considered to be an endemic disease.

[21] The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) advised people who have had close contact with a person infected with mpox to self-isolate for 21 days.

[16] On 30 May, the four main public health agencies published a consensus statement describing the principles they will put in use, with the aim of limiting community transmission.