A new outbreak of monkeypox, a virus similar to smallpox that creates pus-filled lesions on the skin, has been confirmed in the United States, Canada and several African and European countries this week.

While monkeypox is usually not very transmissible or lethal, comparisons to the coronavirus pandemic have sprung up regardless — as well as many memes on the topic.

Monkeypox suspected now in NYC. Boston and New York are almost always our early bell-weathers for epidemics seeded from Europe. Boston had a confirmed #monkeypox yesterday and NYC now has a new suspected case. I’ve seen this pattern before. Hmmm. https://t.co/Xtj8Tc2tWz

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) May 19, 2022

brb, panic-buying toilet paper and gatorade #monkeypox pic.twitter.com/pKoAeVspHt

— Amygator 🐊 *not an actual alligator (@AmyA1A) May 19, 2022

The U.S. already has a vaccine for monkeypox, and doctors say that most infections of the disease clear up on their own. Symptoms are a flu-like fever and the pox itself — pearly, painful, pus-filled lesions appearing all over the body.

So the symptoms of Monkey-pox are:
- headache
- fever
- rash on the face and genitals
- irresistible urge to throw shit at people.

I’ve had this for weeks… 🐒🐒🐒#monkeypox #MonkeypoxVirus

— YNWA 2.0 🌸 (@JP__75) May 20, 2022

However, the human-to-human spread of the disease has startled observers, with some speculating that a new route of transmission (possibly sexual contact) has opened up.

Originally, transmission is speculated to have come from rats rather than monkeys. The U.S. saw a monkeypox outbreak in 2003 due to pet prairie dogs in which 47 people got sick, but all of them recovered. Reportedly, the World Health Organization convened an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the rapid spread of the monkeypox.

#monkeypox is just fearporn pic.twitter.com/gz5rCj9sbL

— S.G (@asqthe17uestion) May 20, 2022

12 cases of #Monkeypox hits UK pic.twitter.com/wKTnudiTwP

— Elsie Stewart (@ElsieSt28881187) May 20, 2022

BREAKING: The prime minister is making emergency preparations for further Downing Street parties in case the UK has to go under #monkeypox lockdown x

— Laura Kuenssberg Translator (@BBCLauraKT) May 20, 2022

Some conspiracy-minded posters online blamed Bill Gates for the monkeypox outbreak, taking comments the American oligarch has made about smallpox as supposed evidence. Others mocked the WHO or linked the timing of the monkeypox outbreak to the World Health Organization’s new Pandemic Cooperation Treaty.

A biowarfare exercise took place on November 2021 for a potential #monkeypox outbreak on the exact date of the outbreak here in the UK 😳. Bill Gates also stated he feared a monkeypox outbreak last year! The people in power are deliberately trying to murder us. #MonkeypoxVirus pic.twitter.com/qhosM4onE6

— Ima B (@BlankName5000) May 20, 2022

Bye bye covid, you're history old chum #monkeypox pic.twitter.com/Qy3wA9a58j

— Methi 🇵🇸 🌹 (@MasalaFry69) May 18, 2022

The Treaty sets up methods for a more coordinated international response to future pandemics in hopes of not repeating mistakes made in the early stages of coronavirus — but many online see it as evidence of plans to institute a global government.

Let me get ahead of the game here: monkeypox is a hoax leaked from a lab in Africa by Soros, Fauci, and a team of crisis actors to distract from Madison Cawthorn being robbed of his House seat by a coven of lesbian witches who teach Critical Race Theory.

Am I @FoxNews-ready yet?

— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) May 18, 2022

Friendly fun fact “Monkeypox” is pronounced with the “k” silent 😉 have great day ✨

— 🤍 Jenn✨ (@Curednails) May 19, 2022

Elsewhere, many simply shared their fears about monkeypox and their exhaustion with pandemic viruses in general.

If monkey pox becomes a pandemic I’m never ever leaving my house

— Audrey (@audreythefinest) May 19, 2022