Human Monkey Pox: Should we Be Unduly Worried?

Benson Okwara

Department of Internal Medicine/ Dermatology & Venereology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Dr. Benson Okwara, Department of Internal Medicine/ Dermatology & Venereology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Keywords: Human; Monkey Pox

Abstract

Monkeypox, a zoonotic disease caused by monkeypox virus (an encapsulated DNA virus), a member of the orthopoxvirus genus in the pox viridae family, results in a smallpox-like disease in humans [1]. Monkeypox virus was first isolated from monkeys in a Danish laboratory in 1958 [2] however, the natural reservoir of the virus is unknown as other wild animals like the rope squirrels, tree squirrels, Gambian pouched rats, dormice and other non-human primates have been identified as susceptible to monkeypox virus.

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