Human monkeypox virus

Organism

Human monkeypox virus

Monkeypox virus is in the family of Orthopoxvirus, which is in the same genus as the smallpox (variola) virus.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease endemic to central and western Africa, where it is a major public health concern.

First documented case in US occurred in June 2003. The infected humans had contact with prairie dogs that had been housed with infected Gambian giant rats from Ghana. This outbreak of 72 cases, as reported to the CDC, involved patients in six states.

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