The idiom, "it never rains, but it pours" explains how one difficult situation tends to quickly follow another. Just as COVID-19 is being brought under control around the world, another potential threat is rearing its ugly head. The WHO has reported 120 worldwide cases of the rare monkeypox virus. It has been detected across Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia. The WHO said it could spread further in the coming months. A WHO spokesperson said: "As we enter the summer season, with mass gatherings, festivals and parties, I am concerned that transmission could accelerate".

Monkeypox is rarely fatal. Most cases are fairly mild. Symptoms include chills, fever, muscle aches, exhaustion and a nasty rash. It usually clears up within four weeks. Monkeypox was first detected in monkeys in 1958. It is transmitted from wild animals such as rodents to people. It can also spread from person to person. The virus is related to the smallpox virus. Scientists say a smallpox vaccine is 85 per cent effective against the monkeypox virus. Despite this figure, virologists around the globe are on high alert. They are tracking the spread of cases.