Context: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating a case of an unusual virus called monkeypox in a traveller coming from Nigeria.
About Monkeypox

• Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name ‘monkeypox.’
• The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. 
• Since then monkeypox has been reported in humans in other central and western African countries.

Nature

• It is a rare viral zoonotic disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus.
• Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.
• The natural host of the virus remains undefined. But the disease has been reported in many animals.
• Animals known to be sources of the Monkeypox virus include monkeys and apes, a variety of rodents (including rats, mice, squirrels and prairie dogs) and rabbits.

Symptoms

• In humans, the symptoms of monkeypox are similar to but milder than the symptoms of smallpox. 
• Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. The main difference between symptoms of smallpox and monkeypox is that monkeypox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not. 

Transmission

• Transmission of monkeypox virus occurs when a person comes into contact with the virus from an animal, human, or materials contaminated with the virus. 
• The virus enters the body through broken skin (even if not visible), respiratory tract, or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth).

Treatment

• There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for Monkeypox infection. In the past, the anti-smallpox vaccine was shown to be 85% effective in preventing Monkeypox.
• But the world was declared free of smallpox in 1980 so the vaccine isn’t widely available anymore.
• Currently, there is no global system in place to manage the spread of Monkeypox, with each country struggling to contain any outbreak whenever it occurs.

Prevention & Way Forward

• Raising awareness of risk factors and educating people.
• Using vaccinia vaccine for the prevention and control of monkeypox.
• A drug called cidofovir can treat monkeypox infection.
• Surveillance and rapid identification of new cases are critical for outbreak containment.
• Putting in place regulations restricting the importation of rodents and non-human primates.