Monkeypox can spread in a few ways. Monkeypox spreads through close contact, mostly skin-to-skin contact. Direct contact with an infected area or body fluids from a person with monkeypox can lead to an infection. Coming in contact with fabrics, objects, or surfaces that have the virus can lead to an infection. You can also acquire it through respiratory secretions. The risk of infection can increase with intimate activities. Intimate activities create opportunities for contact in the areas where monkeypox is mostly likely to be active, such as the genital area. Prolonged contact that comes from hugging, kissing, massage, and prolonged face-to-face contact make it easier for the virus to spread to you. A fetus can become infected if the pregnant person has the virus. It is also possible to become infected from infected animals. If the animal scratches or bites you the virus can transfer. You can also get it from preparing or eating meat or other products from an infected animal. This must get special attention, monkeypox is contagious from the time you first get symptoms until your rash is fully healed. This can mean that you can be contagious for up to 4 weeks if you are infected. Scientists are still researching the complete means that monkeypox can be spread. The full understanding of how it spreads through respiratory secretions and certain bodily fluids and secretions is not yet known.