LOS ANGELES — An increase in the number of cases of monkeypox, a rare but potentially serious viral illness, in Europe and a single case in Massachusetts is attracting increased attention from health officials.
While monkeypox is in the same family of viruses as smallpox, it has been nowhere nearly as contagious as its better-known cousin, nor is it anywhere nearly as contagious as the virus that causes COVID-19.
Monkeypox is garnering increased attention because outbreaks and cases are showing up in areas where they don’t usually occur, raising questions about whether there’s an increased chance for human-to-human transmission.
