MonkeypoxMonkeypox is a viral infection in which a person develops fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and a rash all over the body. Most cases resolve within 2 to 4 weeks.
This rare disease was found mainly in central and western African countries. Cases without international travel or contact with imported animals have been recently reported indicating spread of this infection.
Causes
Monkeypox was first detected in Denmark in 1958 in a colony of monkeys used for research. This is how it came to be called “monkeypox.” The first human case occurred in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In May 2022, several cases of monkeypox were reported in countries where monkeypox does not normally occur. These include countries in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, and Australia.
Monkeypox is caused by Orthopoxvirus. It is similar to the virus that causes smallpox, but is much less severe. The virus is transmitted when a person comes into close contact with an infected animal, human, or material contaminated with the virus.
Monkeypox can be transmitted from animal to human when a person:
Comes in contact with an infected animal
Gets bitten or scratched by an infected animal
Handles or consumes bushmeat
Monkeypox can be transmitted from human to human when a person:
Comes in close contact with body fluids, sores, or scabs from an infected person
Comes in close contact with contaminated material (such as clothing or linens)
Is exposed to large respiratory droplets during face-to-face contact
Has intimate contact during sex including kissing and cuddling (it is unclear if the virus can spread through seminal or vaginal fluids)