Monkey pox is spreading through sexual contact, but only because of skin to skin contact

More than 180 confirmed or suspected cases of the disease are being investigated in at least 14 countries.

Otago University Professor of Biochemistry Kurt Krause says the hallmarks of a pox virus is the lesions a person gets on their skin -- which are contagious.

He says people who are having sexual contact are touching one another and coming into contact with the lesions ... and this is how they are picking it up.