Two children in the UK have been infected with monkeypox, the World Health Organisation has revealed, as Brits are warned about what to look out for in their youngsters.
"Sustained transmission" of the virus across the world could see it begin to move into high-risk groups, such as pregnant
women, immunocompromised people and children.
The WHO said on Wednesday it was investigating reports of infected children in Britain, as well as following up reports in Spain and France.
None of the cases in children have been severe, the health authority said.
The virus has now been identified in more than 50 new countries outside the countries in Africa where it is endemic.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters: "I'm concerned about sustained transmission because it would suggest that the virus (is) establishing itself and it could move into high risk groups including children, the immunocompromised and pregnant women."
There have been more than 3,400 cases of monkeypox, and one death, since the outbreak began in May, largely in Europe among
men who have sex with men, according to a WHO figures.
There have also been more than 1,500 cases and 66 deaths in countries this year where it more usually spreads.
Last week, the WHO ruled that the outbreak did not yet represent a public health emergency, its highest level of alert.
However, Mr Ghebreyesus said the WHO was tracking the outbreak closely and would reconvene the committee "as soon as possible" to assess whether this was still the case.
The agency said it was also working on a mechanism to distribute vaccines more equitably, after countries including Britain and the United States suggested they were willing to share their stockpiled smallpox vaccines, which also protect against monkeypox.
