Why is it called Monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a contagious viral disease that can affect both humans and animals.

Monkeypox got its name because it was first recognised as a distinct illness in 1958 among laboratory monkeys in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Several animal species are suspected of acting as natural reservoirs for the virus.  The first human cases were discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970. (DRC).

There have been isolated cases in Central and West Africa, and it is endemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The 2022 monkeypox outbreak is the first instance of widespread community transmission outside of Africa, having been discovered in the United Kingdom in 2010.

The time between exposure and onset of symptoms ranges between five and twenty-one days.

The typical duration of symptoms is two to four weeks. There may be mild symptoms, and they may occur without any known symptoms.

The classic presentation of fever and muscle pains, followed by swollen glands and lesions at the same time, is not consistent across all outbreaks.

Severe cases are possible, particularly in children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.