The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has became the first Gulf state to record a case of monkeypox.
The Czech Republic and Slovenia also reported their first cases on Tuesday, joining 18 other countries to detect the virus outside its usual Africa base.
That number is expected to rise further still, but experts say the overall risk to the general population remains low.
Outbreaks of the virus have been found in Europe, Australia and America.
The symptoms often include a fever and rash - but the infection is usually mild.
In the UAE, health officials announced a case had been detected in a traveller who had recently visited west Africa and is now receiving medical treatment.
Authorities there say they are "fully prepared" to handle any outbreak, adding that early surveillance protocols for detecting the disease were in place.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the virus can be contained with the right response in countries outside of Africa where it is not usually detected.
"We encourage you all to increase the surveillance of monkeypox to see where transmission levels are and understand where it is going," the WHO's director for Global Infectious Hazard Preparedness, Sylvie Briand, said at a conference on Tuesday.
The outbreaks may not be normal but remain containable, she added.
Outside Africa there are now 237 confirmed and suspected cases of monkeypox and health authorities around the world have announced plans to contain the virus.
Germany says it has ordered up to 40,000 doses of the Imvanex vaccine - used to treat smallpox, but also effective against monkeypox - to be ready in case the outbreak worsens.
Anyone already vaccinated with a smallpox vaccine years ago as part of a global bid to eradicate the disease should have existing immunity, German health officials said. But they added that the older treatment has more side-effects so is not suitable for fighting monkeypox today.

And in France, which has detected three cases, officials announced a targeted vaccination campaign of adults who had been recently exposed.
Authorities there are recommending that a vaccine be given within four days of exposure, but up to 14 days afterwards if necessary.
In England, officials announced on Tuesday that 14 more cases of the virus had been detected - bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 71.
Monkeypox is usually associated with travel to Central or West Africa, but some of the cases which have been occurring outside these countries have had no travel link.
It does not spread easily between people, but it can be spread through:
- touching clothing, bedding or towels used by someone with the monkeypox rash
- touching monkeypox skin blisters or scabs
- the coughs or sneezes of a person with the monkeypox rash
If you get infected with monkeypox, it usually takes between five and 21 days for the first symptoms to appear.
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion.
A rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body. The rash changes and goes through different stages - a bit like chicken pox - before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.
Latest Stories
-
MTN Ghana champions youth mentorship drive at UG with focus on digital skills
12 minutes -
Kufuor demands respect and inclusion; laments marginalisation by NPP
24 minutes -
Black Queens outstanding allowances has been paid – Ghana’s Ambassador to Morocco
54 minutes -
Mobik Energy CEO raises alarm over Tarkwa’s disappearing rivers and environmental neglect
1 hour -
Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari dies in London
2 hours -
Hard work, not betting, will secure your future -Mobik Energy CEO advises Tarkwa Youth
2 hours -
GIA boss debunks claim payment misconceptions as ‘Street Insurance Campaign’ educates public
2 hours -
Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen supports renal patients with GHS100K, urges gov’t to absorb full cost of dialysis care
3 hours -
WAFCON 2024: We have ‘good options in attack’ – Bjorkegren backs Queens to improve goalscoring
3 hours -
Vice President convenes strategic stakeholder meeting on Women’s Development Bank
3 hours -
Bawumia visits Hawa Koomson after violent attack during Ablekuma North rerun
3 hours -
Bawumia visits assault victims in Ablekuma North rerun; pledges support
3 hours -
Mahama charges Transport Minister and Attorney-General to resolve unauthorised shipping charges
3 hours -
Mahama engages freight forwarders on 24-Hour Economy
3 hours -
Rejecting top-bottom tyranny: NPP must reclaim its soul – Activist
4 hours