Masking doesn't help against monkeypox unless you are in extremely close contact with people (say, an extremely crowded bus at rush hour). Still helps with COVID, though.

Number one: Wash. Your. Hands. Seriously.

Number two: If you are going to a dance party, rave or mosh pit, wear long pants and sleeves. I know it sucks, you want to strip down, but mosh pits are a place this might transmit and the outbreak in Europe STARTED at a rave.

Number three: If you must have sex with a stranger, and I get it, I am NOT going to slut shame anyone, inspect each other for a rash before you start activities.

Number four: If you are a huggy person, minimize skin to skin contact when hugging people who aren't members of your household. Don't press your face against theirs, etc.

Unlike COVID, monkeypox does not transmit long distances through the air.

Unlike COVID, monkeypox does transmit via high touch surfaces and shared bedding, food utensils, etc.

Masking in the grocery store isn't going to help with this one, although you might still want to do it for COVID.

Washing your hands, being careful with shared utensils at parties, and the like will.

What worries me is that we can't do mass vaccination until we have enough of the Jynneos vaccine, which is not approved for children (but is being given to them off label due to their very high risk).

We cannot use the old smallpox vaccine. Why? It kills about 1 in a million people who take it.

Even one high profile vaccine-related death right now would destroy public health programs in the U.S. Want measles back? We already may have POLIO back? We can't. It would cause far, far more public health issues than it would solve.

And wash. Your. Hands.