Who is at risk for contracting monkeypox?

Anyone who has had close, personal, skin-to-skin contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk. As of September 2022, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men make up the majority of monkeypox cases in the US, but the trend may not continue in that direction. Anyone, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, can contract monkeypox if exposed, and people who have had multiple sex partners in the last month are at increased risk.  

Some groups may also be at heightened risk for severe outcomes if they contract monkeypox, including people with weakened immune systems, young children under 8 years of age, and pregnant people.