Monkeypox

The Monkeypox virus, first identified in 1958 as a pathogen of cynomolgus monkeys, is an orthopoxvirus with a clinical presentation similar to smallpox.

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Human monkeypox is a rare zoonotic viral disease that occurs primarily in remote villages of Central and Western Africa close to tropical rainforests where there is frequent contact with infected animals. Monkeypox is usually transmitted to humans from rodents, pets and primates through contact with the animal's blood or through a bite.

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Monkeypox was first associated with human illness in Zaire and West Africa during 1970-1971. A second outbreak of human illness was identified in Zaire in 1996-1997. As of 2003, a small outbreak of human monkeypox in the United States appears to be in progress.

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Virus: :This article is concerned with virus as a biological infectious particle; for other uses of the term see virus (disambiguation). An extensive treatment of the pluralization of the word "virus" in English is found in the article Plural of virus. A list of biological viruses has also been prepared. ...

1958: 1958 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar....

Pathogen: A pathogen literally "birth of pain" from the Greek παθογένεια) is a biological agent that can cause disease to its host. A synonym of pathogen is "infectious agent"....