Scientists have found evidence to show that the monkeypox virus can spread from an infected person up to four days before they even start exhibiting symptoms of the disease, a new study has claimed.

The researchers behind the study estimated that 53 per cent of the transmission of monkeypox occurred in this pre-symptomatic phase, meaning that many infections cannot be prevented by asking individuals to isolate after they notice their symptoms.

According to them, if these findings published in the British Medical Journal are supported by other studies, pre-symptomatic transmission "would have important implications for infection control globally".