You can catch monkeypox from an infected animal if you're bitten or you touch its blood, body fluids, spots, blisters or scabs. Monkeypox can be caught from infected rodents (such as rats, mice and squirrels) in parts of west and central Africa. There have been some recent cases in the UK, but the risk of catching it is low. Monkeypox is a rare infection that's mainly found in parts of west or central Africa.