Monkeypox is a viral infection found mostly in the rainforest of central and western Africa. It is called monkeypox because it was first identified in laboratory monkeys. The virus is also found in some rodents, such as prairie dogs.
In 2003 there was an outbreak of monkeypox that involved over 70 people in the US. These were the first known cases of human monkeypox in the US. The infection was thought to have spread from African rodents to prairie dogs at the facility where the animals were kept before they were sent to pet stores.
Monkeypox is caused by a virus that is similar to the smallpox virus. The virus can be spread from infected monkeys and rodents to humans when they are in close contact. For example, people can get monkeypox from an infected animal or another person through a bite or through direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, or sores.
The symptoms of monkeypox usually begin about 12 days after exposure to the virus. The first symptoms are:
In most cases, a rash then appears 1 to 3 days or more after the fever started. The rash of raised bumps or blisters usually starts on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body.
Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and ways you might have been exposed to the virus. He or she will examine you. There are lab tests that can identify the virus in a sample of your blood or a sample of fluid from the rash, but only a few labs in the country are able to do these tests.
There is no specific treatment for monkeypox. However, the smallpox vaccine may be given within 2 weeks of exposure to help make the illness less severe and possibly even prevent it.
The rash and other symptoms usually last 2 to 4 weeks. The rash will get crusty and scab over before it goes away. In rare cases the virus can be fatal.
Drink plenty of fluids, rest, and follow your healthcare provider's advice. You should avoid exposing others to the infection if possible. This includes not exposing others to your rash or body fluids, including saliva from kissing, coughing, and sneezing. Don’t share food or eating utensils. If you have a poxlike rash, there is virus in the sores. Avoid spreading the liquid in the sores to others. Wash your hands often, especially after you eat, use the toilet, or touch the rash.
Avoid contact with animals that might be infected with the virus, such as prairie dogs.
The smallpox vaccine protects against monkeypox. If you cannot avoid contact with animals that may be infected, talk with your healthcare provider about getting the smallpox vaccine.
If you have an animal that is infected with monkeypox, follow your vet's instructions for quarantining the animal. Limit human contact with the animal to no more than one person if possible. That person should use gloves, a mask, and protective clothing when caring for the animal and should touch the animal as little as possible. Anyone caring for the animal should wash their hands (and any other contact area) well after each handling. They should also wash their clothing after each handling if it is possible the clothes touched the sores or body fluids (including saliva) of the infected animal.
