Monkeypox is said to be more susceptible to mutation than the usual rate, according to a new study.
The National Institute of Health collected 15 samples of the virus for the purposes of the research.
Experts found that the virus may have mutated up to 12 times faster since 2018, the Express reports.
Findings from the study are awaiting official publication.
READ MORE: Monkeypox vaccines to be offered to high-risk Scots as cases continue to rise
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Monkeypox was first found in human in 1970 and has since become endemic in a number of central and western African countries.
However, the virus has gone to be identified in a number of non-endemic countries in recent months.
The World Health Organisation said that monkeypox has been reported by 23 of its member states as of May 29 this year.
As of June 23, 910 laboratory confirmed cases of monkeypox have been found in the UK - with 26 of those in Scotland.
Most of the cases are said to be in men who are gay or bisexual or in men who have sex with men.
Monkeypox has not previously been described as a sexually transmitted infection, but can be passed on by direct contact during sex.
Experts at the WHO is encouraging the use of surveillance, contact tracing and isolation in order to identify and control cases in what it calls “coordinated action”.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “This is clearly an evolving health threat…it requires our collective attention and co-ordinated action now to stop the further spread of monkeypox virus.”
Last week, the Scottish Government announced that a vaccine to tackle monkeypox will be rolled out to certain groups later this year amid concerns over the illness.
People in priority risk groups will be given the jab as part of a ‘pre-exposure’ monkeypox vaccine programme.
Gay and bisexual men considered to be high risk of contracting the disease will be included in the roll out, in addition to certain healthcare workers.
Full details of the rollout will be released by the Scottish Government in the near future.
The move came after the Joint Committee on Immunisation and Vaccination (JCVI) recommended that high risk people should be offered the smallpox vaccine Imvanex.
Studies have shown that the jab is effective against monkeypox.
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