Cases of monkey pox are on the rise around the world.

Virologist Dr Amr Bayoumy, spoke exclusively to the Mirror discussing how the disease is transmitted and whether we should worry about it spreading to our dogs and cats.

Dr Bayoumy of the University of Coventry began by assuring that monkey pox is not another coronavirus.

"The spread of monkey pox from infected individuals to another person is through prolonged contact.

"This happens through mucous membranes, lesions, open incisions or wounds or certain materials such as bedding, towels or clothes," he said.

Discussing the history of the disease, Dr Bayoumy found that the virus never started in monkeys, but rather in rodents.

He explained that it was later called apes when it was isolated in a laboratory in monkeys, and hence the name.

Can dogs and cats be affected by monkey pox?

In short, pet owners do not have much to worry about, as it is unlikely that you can pass monkey pox infection to your cats and dogs.

"Since [monkey pox was first recorded], there have been periodic outbreaks of the disease in Africa and the United States in 2003. In the case of the American outbreak, infected dogs and squirrels were the cause with experts still unsure how "The squirrels were initially infected," said the expert.

But infection between pet dogs and cats is unlikely.

"We need more monitoring, but at the moment there have been no reported cases of infection of dogs or cats," he added.

However, large rodents can be susceptible to monkey pox.