monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the viral disease, with more than 200 confirmed or suspected infections mostly in Europe.
The outbreaks are raising alarm because monkeypox, which spreads through close contact and was first found in monkeys, mostly occurs in West and Central Africa, and only very occasionally spreads elsewhere.
The monkeypox virus can be transmitted to humans by infected animals. Person-to-person transmission is possible but rare. Monkeypox is related to smallpox but is much less severe.
Initial symptoms include a high fever, swollen lymph nodes and a chickenpox-like rash. There is no specific treatment but vaccination against smallpox has been found to be about 85 percent effective in preventing monkeypox.