Atlanta, Georgia - On Monday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised its monkeypox alert level from one to two. The agency noted that the monkeypox outbreak is not at the same level of concern as the coronavirus.

Level two is a health alert level and suggests that the public "practice enhanced precautions," according to the CDC's website.

When raising the alert level, the CDC recommended travelers wear masks.

However, the organization cautioned that monkeypox was not on the same level of concern as Covid-19.

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Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by an infection with the monkeypox virus. It presents as flu-like symptoms before patients develop a painful rash, lesions, and swollen lymph nodes.

The incubation period between exposure and when symptoms first appear can range from five to 21 days, according to the World Health Organization.

The CDC said cases have been reported on every continent except Antarctica.

"Some cases were reported among men who have sex with men. Some cases were also reported in people who live in the same household as an infected person," the CDC said.

Experts said a number of sexually transmitted infections present similar symptoms and the real number of infections could be higher.

As of Monday afternoon, the agency confirmed that there were 31 reported cases in the US. The first cases in Washington DC were reported on Sunday.