What Is Monkeypox (mpox)?
Mpox is also a zoonotic disease. This means it can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa. It can also be transmitted from one human to another.
There are two different types of the mpox virus, the West African virus and the Congo Basin virus.
Before 2022, most cases of mpox occurred in central and western Africa. However, cases of mpox caused by the West African form of the virus have since spread worldwide, including in areas where it doesn't usually occur.
Read on to learn about the causes, symptoms, and diagnosis of mpox. This article will also explain how mpox spreads and how it can be treated.
The Word Health Organization (WHO) changed the name from 'monkeypox' to 'mpox' in November 2022 to reduce the risk of stigmatization and other issues. Where possible, this article has been updated to reflect this change.
What causes monkeypox?
Mpox is caused by the mpox virus. The virus is part of the Orthopoxvirus genus, which includes the virus that causes smallpox.
Scientists first identified the disease in 1958. Two outbreaks occurred among monkeys used for research, which is why the condition was originally called monkeypox.
The first case of mpox in a human happened in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Monkeypox symptoms
The symptoms of mpox are similar to those of smallpox. However, Mpox symptoms are typically milder.
After you contract the mpox virus, it typically takes 6 to 13 days for symptoms to appear. However, this can range from 5 to 21 days.
The early symptoms can include:
fever, which is commonly the first symptom
headache
muscle aches
back ache
fatigue
chills
swollen lymph nodes, also known as lymphadenopathy
After the fever develops, a rash usually appears 1 to 3 days later.
The rash typically affects your:
face, which is the most common site
palms of your hands
soles of your feet
mouth
genitalia
eyes, including the conjunctivae and cornea
A rash may come before or after fever and other flu-like symptoms. Some people may only experience a rash.
The rash associated with mpox consists of lesions that evolve in the following order:
macules, or flat discolored lesions
papules, or slightly raised lesions
vesicles, or bumps with clear fluid
pustules, or bumps with yellowish fluid
scabs
After the lesions dry and scab over, they fall off.
The symptoms of mpox generally last 2 to 4 weeks and go away without treatment.
Monkeypox pictures
Here's what the condition looks like in humans:
Potential complications from monkeypox
Possible complications of mpox include:
bronchopneumonia
sepsis
inflammation of brain tissue, also known as encephalitis
infection of the cornea, the clear outer layer of your eye
secondary infections
An infection in the cornea may lead to vision loss.
In severe cases, the lesions might merge together. This may cause the loss of a large area of skin.
Where is monkeypox found?
In the past, the mpox virus was mainly active in tropical, rural parts of central and western Africa. Since 1970, it has occurred in the following countries:
Benin
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Cote d'Ivoire
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Gabon
Liberia
Nigeria
Republic of the Congo
Sierra Leone
South Sudan
Historically, most reported cases of mpox are from rural areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
However, on July 23, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
How does monkeypox spread?
Mypox spreads through direct contact with the mpox virus through the following substances:
blood
bodily fluids
skin or mucous lesions
respiratory droplets, for human-to-human contact
It can also spread through contact with objects, fabrics, or surfaces that contain the mpox virus.
People who are pregnant can also pass the virus to their fetus through the placenta.
The mpox virus can also be spread through intimate contact, which includes:
hugging, massaging, or kissing
oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse
touching the genitals or anus of a person with the mpox virus
prolonged face-to-face contact
touching objects during sex that contain the mpox virus, such as bedding, towels, or sex toys
Transmission can also happen through:
bites and scratches from animals with an mpox infection
eating the meat of an animal with an mpox infection
Scientists are still researching whether monkeypox can be spread by a person who has no symptoms, how it spreads through respiratory secretions, and whether or not it can be spread by contact with other bodily fluids, including vaginal fluids, semen, urine, or feces.
Is monkeypox deadly?
According to the CDC, mpox is rarely fatal. In fact, approximately 99% of people who get the West African version of mpox survive. This is the strain that's responsible for the current outbreak.
Certain people may be more susceptible to severe illness and complications, including:
people with weakened immune systems
children under 8 years old
people who are pregnant or breastfeeding
individuals with a history of eczema
People who experience secondary bacterial infections tend to have worse outcomes.
Compared with the West African form of the virus, the Congo Basin form of mpox is usually more severe — it has a fatality rate of around 10%.
How is monkeypox treated?
There's currently no treatment for mpox. However, monkeypox is self-limiting, which means it can get better without treatment.
Some medications can be used to control an outbreak and prevent the disease from spreading. They can include:
vaccinia vaccine (smallpox vaccine)
vaccinia immune globulin
antiviral medication (in animals)
tecovirimat (TPOXX), an antiviral used to treat smallpox
brincidofovir (Tembexa), an antiviral used to treat adult and pediatric smallpox
cidofovir, which is typically used to treat eye infections caused by cytomegalovirus but has been used in certain mpox cases
Other treatments focus on managing symptoms using over-the-counter or prescription medications, such as pain relievers, topical creams, and oral antihistamines.
Can vaccination prevent monkeypox?
According to the WHO, the smallpox vaccine is approximately 85% effective in preventing the development of mpox. If you received the smallpox vaccine as a child and contract the mpox virus, your symptoms may be mild.
There are two vaccines available that may be used for the prevention of mpox, JYNNEOS and ACAM2000.
People who have been exposed to mpox and those who are at an increased risk of contracting the virus should get a vaccine.
This includes people who:
have been identified by public health officials as a close contact of a person with mpox
have had a sexual partner within the past 2 weeks who's been diagnosed with mpox
have had multiple sexual partners within the past 2 weeks in an area where mpox cases have been reported
who have a job that exposes them to orthopoxviruses, including mpox
Ask your doctor about getting a vaccination.
In addition to getting vaccinated, wash your hands frequently and avoid direct contact with people who have mpox or objects that they might've used to prevent infection.
Who should be screened for monkeypox and how is it diagnosed?
If you've had close contact with someone who has gotten mpox, consulting with a healthcare professional to determine whether testing is necessary.
Doctors diagnose mpox using several methods:
Lab tests: This involves testing the fluid from lesions or dry scabs. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test can check for the virus in these samples.
Biopsy: A biopsy involves removing a piece of skin tissue and testing it for the virus.
Blood tests aren't usually recommended. That's because the mpox virus stays in the blood for a short time. Therefore, it's not an accurate test for diagnosing mpox.
Takeaway
Mpox is a viral disease and zoonotic condition, which means it can spread from animals to humans. It can also spread through contact between two humans.
The first symptoms typically include fever, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. As the disease progresses, it causes a rash, which can appear on or near your genitals, anus, face, chest, and extremities.
The rash consists of lesions that turn into fluid-filled blisters, which then dry up and fall off. The rash typically starts on your face and then progresses, usually to your arms and legs. However, it can occur in other parts of your body as well.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
41 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Aid groups warn of attacks on Sudan's hospitals as disease outbreaks and atrocities mount
CAIRO (AP) — Humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm over attacks on healthcare facilities across Sudan, warning that they are happening amid what they describe as ongoing mass atrocities against civilians. Doctors without Borders — also known as Médecins Sans Frontières or MSF — said Thursday that 70% of medical facilities in Sudan have either closed or are barely operational with no end to the war in sight. Sudan's civil war broke out in April 2023 after simmering tensions between the Sudanese army and its paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), escalated to fighting across the country. Some 40,000 people have been killed and nearly 13 million displaced, including to other countries, according to U.N. agencies. War has left many facing food insecurity and risk of famine and exposure to disease outbreaks like cholera, which remains hard to contain due to Sudan's collapsed healthcare system. In a report released Thursday titled 'Besieged, Attacked, Starved', MSF warned that access to healthcare is nearly impossible due to systematic attacks, while the remaining operational facilities remain under constant threat. 'We call to all warring parties to stop violence against the civilian health facilities and civilian infrastructure and to facilitate a large-scale humanitarian response,' said Michel-Olivier Lacharité, MSF's head of emergency operations in a news conference presenting the report. Echoing MSF's concerns, Save the Children, warned Thursday that attacks on hospitals nearly tripled after two years of war. The group said in a statement that at least 933 people, including children, were killed during the first half of 2025. This figure is a 60-fold increase over the deaths recorded during the same period of the previous year, according to the group. Those killed were either seeking medical care or accompanying a loved one in a hospital. Major hospitals, clinics, health facilities, ambulances and medical convoys all saw fatal attacks in a country where half the population requires humanitarian assistance, according to Save the Children. 'We are concerned that in most cases, the hospitals that have come under fire also happen to be the only remaining hospitals in those areas, putting healthcare out of reach for millions, including displaced people,' said Francesco Lanino, deputy country director of programs and operations for Save the Children in Sudan. MSF particularly warned against violence in El Fasher city, the capital of North Darfur province, that made it near impossible for residents there and nearby displacement camps to access healthcare. As of April, only one hospital with surgical capacity remained partially operational, serving an estimated population of over one million. Over the past year, many patients and their caretakers have been killed while inside an MSF-supported medical facility. MSF urged the warring parties to 'halt indiscriminate and ethnically targeted violence and facilitate an immediate large-scale humanitarian response', particularly referring to threats of attacks on the hundreds of thousands of people in El Fasher, where fighting intensified since May 2024. Last month, Sudan's military accepted a U.N. proposal for a week-long ceasefire in El Fasher to allow aid delivery. However, the RSF did not explicitly agree to the truce and engaged in renewed clashes with the army in the southern part of the city this week. MSF urged the international community — especially countries engaging with both the Sudanese army and the RSF — to take stronger action to address the crisis in Sudan. 'They must use all the leverage to prevent further mass atrocities. They must place protection of civilians at the core of their engagement with the warring parties,' said Christopher Lockyear, secretary general of MSF International, on Thursday.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
WHO again urges countries to raise taxes on alcohol, sugary drinks
The World Health Organization (WHO) is again calling on countries to raise prices on 'harmful products' such as alcohol and sugary drinks through a new initiative. In a bid to improve public health and tackle rising rates for chronic diseases, the specialised UN agency is urging countries to increase prices of these products, as well as tobacco, by at least 50% through health taxes by 2035. Through its new '3 by 35' initiative, the WHO is looking to raise $1trn in public revenue over the next ten years, as the organisation claims that tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks are "fuelling the NCD (noncommunicable diseases) epidemic". According to the WHO, nearly 140 countries raised tobacco taxes between 2012- 2022, which saw real prices of the product go up by over 50% on average. Assistant director general for the health promotion and disease prevention and control at WHO, Dr Jeremy Farrar said: 'Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we have.' He added: 'They cut the consumption of harmful products and create revenue governments can reinvest in health care, education, and social protection. It's time to act.' The WHO previously called on countries to raise taxes on sweetened and alcoholic drinks back in 2023. A spokesperson for FoodDrinkEurope commented on the WHO's new initiative, saying that a 50% drinks tax is 'not the solution.' The spokesperson said that diets and lifestyles are 'too complex to be effectively shaped by blunt instruments like taxes on individual foods, beverages, or nutrients,'. They added that a 'such one-size-fits-all measures often fail to deliver health benefits and can lead to unintended consequences,' such as consumers turning to 'alternative or unregulated products, which may carry greater health risks and add to social costs.' They continued: 'Empowering consumers through better information and broader choices is key to achieving lasting improvements in public health.' Several efforts have been made worldwide to bring in taxes on sugary products. In June, Vietnam approved a proposal to raise the consumption tax on alcohol, and bring in a levy on sugary drinks, according to the local branch of the World Health Organization (WHO). Earlier in April, the UK also called out for a consultation on proposals to widen the sugar tax on soft drinks and include milk-based drinks. Italy, on the other hand, has had plans to implement a sugar tax on sugary drinks since 2020, but last month this was pushed back again to January 2026. "WHO again urges countries to raise taxes on alcohol, sugary drinks" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Epoch Times
3 hours ago
- Epoch Times
WHO Urges Nations to Hike Taxes on Sugary Drinks, Alcohol, Tobacco by 50 Percent
The World Health Organization (WHO) called on nations to increase the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol, and tobacco by at least 50 percent over the next decade, at a press conference on July 2; part of wider efforts to curb chronic diseases and generate critical public revenue. The WHO unveiled the new health taxation initiative, dubbed '3 by 35' at the U.N. Finance for Development conference in Seville.
