Browsing: Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. It was first identified in 1958 in colonies of monkeys kept for research, giving rise to its name, although rodents are believed to be the natural reservoir of the virus. The disease is primarily found in central and west Africa, where it is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected animal or human, or with material contaminated with the virus. Monkeypox is similar to smallpox, though clinically less severe, with symptoms that include fever, headache, muscle aches, and a distinctive bumpy rash. The infection can last for 2 to 4 weeks. Human cases outside of Africa are rare, though there have been outbreaks globally, linked usually to international travel or imported animals. Recent attention has focused on monkeypox due to outbreaks in non-endemic countries, highlighting the disease’s potential to spread beyond its usual geographic boundaries.