As New York City sees potential cases of monkeypox, a local doctor is reassuring residents there is no need to panic.

The biggest symptom of the disease is a rash or lesions on the skin, which could resemble certain sexually transmitted infections like herpes.

"Monkeypox is difficult to transit and easier to contain, it's not like SARS COVID-19 where somebody could have passed it to somebody without knowing," says Dr. Paul Lam of NYC Health + Hospitals / Kings County. "So, I think the panic level should still be low."

Monkeypox is spread through close or intimate contact, and most patients recover in two to four weeks.