Explainer: what is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a viral disease that was first identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958 – hence its name. The first human case of monkeypox was reported in 1970, in DR Congo.
Monkeypox occurs chiefly in west and central African countries, and has symptoms “similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox”, according to the CDC.
The WHO says monkeypox is chiefly transmitted “from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected animals”.
The organisation adds that transmission of monkeypox between humans as “relatively limited”, noting that the longest documented chain of person-to-person transmission is six people.
“[Human-to-human] infection can result from close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects,” the WHO says.
“Transmission via droplet respiratory particles usually requires prolonged face-to-face contact, which puts health workers and household members of active cases at greater risk.”