Lesson
Mpox Outbreak Spreads to New Countries
Read this news story in English at three levels, easy, standard, and advanced (B1–C1) — with vocabulary and a comprehension quiz.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is re-emerging in new countries, particularly affecting children. Public health experts are concerned about its containment.
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Standard — Natural English
57 words · ~1 min readEasy version (A2–B1)
Mpox is a disease that can make people sick. It starts with flu-like symptoms, like fever and chills. Then, it causes a rash with blisters. The disease is spreading to new countries, and children are getting sick. Experts want to stop the spread.Standard version (B1–B2)
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is making headlines again as it spreads to new countries, including Guinea Bissau. This infectious disease begins with flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills, followed by a rash that develops into blisters. The recent outbreak is particularly affecting children, raising concerns among health experts about how to contain the virus effectively.Advanced version (C1–C2)
The resurgence of mpox, previously referred to as monkeypox, has garnered attention as it spreads to new countries, including Guinea Bissau, marking the first outbreak there. This infectious disease typically commences with flu-like symptoms, such as fever, chills, and muscle aches, before progressing to a distinctive rash characterized by raised spots that evolve into fluid-filled blisters. Alarmingly, recent data indicates that children are particularly affected in this new wave of infections, prompting public health officials to consider strategies for containment and prevention as the virus threatens to establish itself in regions previously unscathed.Lesson audio
Standard level
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Test your understanding
01What was mpox previously known as?
02Which country recently reported its first case of mpox?
03What symptoms does mpox typically start with?
04What is a concern regarding the recent mpox outbreak?
Discussion
What measures can be taken to prevent the spread of mpox in new regions?
Vocabulary
mpox word
an infectious disease that causes flu-like symptoms and a rash
“Mpox is spreading to new countries.”
outbreak word
a sudden increase in the occurrence of a disease
“The outbreak of mpox is concerning health officials.”
endemic word
regularly found and consistently present in a particular area
“Mpox was once endemic in certain African countries.”
transmission word
the act of spreading a disease from one person to another
“Human-to-human transmission of mpox is increasing.”
containment word
the action of keeping something harmful under control
“Containment strategies are needed to stop the spread of mpox.”