Background: Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. The virus was first discovered in 1958 in Denmark among monkeys kept for research purposes, which is where the disease initially got its name. The first recorded human case occurred in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, involving a nine-month-old boy.
There are two distinct genetic groups of the monkeypox virus, known as clades: clade I and clade II. Both clades can cause human infection, and person-to-person transmission is possible. Transmission occurs through direct contact with infectious skin lesions, including those in the mouth and on the genitals. This includes various types of contact, such as face-to-face, skin-to-skin, mouth-to-mouth, and mouth-to-skin contact. Additionally, respiratory droplets or short-range aerosols from prolonged close contact can also facilitate the spread of the virus.
The signs and symptoms of mpox typically begin within a week of exposure, though they can start anywhere from 1 to 21 days afterward. Common symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes, and the development of a characteristic rash. The rash starts as flat sores that evolve into blisters filled with liquid, which can be itchy or painful. These symptoms usually last 2 to 4 weeks but may persist longer in individuals with weakened immune systems.