Monkey is a viral zoonotic disease which has symptoms somewhat similar to those seen in smallpox patients in the past
It is mostly transmitted from animals to humans and the natural host of this virus includes rope squirrels, tree squirrels, Gambian pouched rats, dormice, non-human primates
It primarily occurs in tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa and is also seen in urban areas nowadays
The first case of human monkeypox was identified in the body of a nine month old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970
According to WHO, animal to human transmission of monkeypox can occur from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected animals.
A human can also transmit monkeypox cases to another of his own species from close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects
The incubation period of monkeypox is usually from 6 to 13 days but can also range from 5 to 21 days.
Symptoms can include fever, severe headache, swelling of the lymph nodes, muscle pain and weakness
Two antivirals used to treat smallpox, TPOXX and Cidofovir, have been authorized to used for treatment of monkeypox.