The monkeypox virus can cause a fatal disease in humans; it is similar to human smallpox, although typically much less serious.

Similar to smallpox and cowpox. Transmitted to humans by African rodents.

Contact with blood, bodily fluids, or rashes of infected animals. Secondary transmission human to human resulting from close contact with infected respiratory tract excretions, with the skin lesions of a contaminated person or recently contaminated objects.

Monkeypox is a rare viral disease that occurs mostly in central and western Africa. It is called “monkeypox” because it was first found in 1958 in laboratory monkeys. Scientists also recovered the virus that causes monkeypox from an African squirrel. These types of squirrels might be the common host for the disease. Rats, mice, and rabbits can get monkeypox, too. Monkeypox was reported in humans for the first time in 1970."

The incubation period of monkeypox varies from 6 to 16 days. Divided into two stages: the invasion period (0-5 days) characterized by fever, intense headache, lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph node), back pain, myalgia (muscle ache) and an intense asthenia (lack of energy);
the skin eruption period where the various stages of the eruption appear on the face (in 95% of cases), on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet (75%) and on the body nearly simultaneously.

There is no treatment or vaccine available although smallpox vaccination has proven to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.

Preventing monkeypox expansion through animal trade
Restricting or banning the movement of small African mammals and monkeys may be effective in slowing the expansion of the virus outside Africa. Reducing the risk of infection in people
During monkeypox outbreaks, close contact with other patients is the most significant risk factor for monkeypox virus infection. In the absence of specific treatment and a vaccine, the only way to reduce infection in people is by raising awareness of the risk factors and educating people about the measures they can take to reduce exposure to the virus.