Monkeypox
1. General information
Monkeypox is a rare viral disease that is found mostly in the rainforest
countries of central and west Africa. The disease is called “monkeypox” because
it was first discovered in laboratory monkeys in 1958. Blood tests of animals
in Africa later found evidence of monkeypox infection in various rodent
species. The virus that causes monkeypox was recovered from an African
squirrel, which may be the natural host. Laboratory studies showed that
the virus could also infect rats, mice, and rabbits.
2. Basic Monkeypox references
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (www.cdc.gov/) maintains a
web page devoted exclusively to monkeypox (www.cdc.gov/ncidod/monkeypox)
which includes excellent technical documents about the disease. Links are provided
below to these documents, selected from the several dozen available, as useful
for persons, including health care professionals, looking for a rapid, basic
orientation to monkeypox.
|
|
|
3. More Information About Monkeypox
4. Monkeypox Reporting
Physicians and health care facilities should report suspected monkeypox cases
to their local
county health department.