The reason for Dr Head’s comments is down to young sexually active LGBTQ+ men making up the bulk of the cases in the UK.
Despite this, in a statement the UKHSA reinforced how anyone, regardless of gender or sexuality, could catch and become seriously ill from monkeypox.
They also urged anyone who had a suspect rash with blisters after intimate contact with a monkeypox patient to visit their local sexual health clinic as soon as possible.
Monkeypox can be transmitted through several means, through skin on skin contact with an infected person, through contact with their bedsheets, or through large droplets in a crowd.