Overview

Mpox (formerly called monkeypox) is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as the smallpox virus. Scientists have found more than 80 types of poxviruses in animals like birds, insects, reptiles, and mammals.

Some poxviruses can infect people. Smallpox was one of them, but it was wiped out in 1980, thanks to vaccines. Other poxviruses, like orf, cowpox, and Tanapox, can also spread from animals to humans, but they don’t pass easily from person to person.

Symptoms

Mpox symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after infection (range: 5 to 21 days). Early flu-like symptoms include:

• Fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain
• Chills and extreme tiredness

Within 1 to 3 days, a blister-like rash appears, usually on the face, hands, and feet, but can spread. The sores look similar, go through stages, then scab over and heal.

Most people recover in 2 to 4 weeks without lasting effects. The fatality rate in recent outbreaks is around 1%. Since other illnesses can cause rashes, getting the right diagnosis is key for proper treatment.

How It Spreads

Monkeypox spreads differently depending on the region:

• In areas where the virus exists in animals, people can get infected by handling wild animals, being bitten or scratched, or touching contaminated meat or fluids. Scientists have found the virus in rodents like squirrels, rats, and mice, though the exact source is unclear.
• In areas without infected animals, most cases come from close contact with an infected person through skin-to-skin contact, bodily fluids, or contaminated objects. While rare, the virus could also spread through exotic pets or animal products like skins and leather.

Prevention

Most people with mpox don’t need special treatment—their body fights off the virus on its own, just like with the flu or a cold. For severe cases, especially in people with weak immune systems, doctors might use an antiviral medicine called tecovirimat. This drug helps lower the amount of virus in the body and may be useful if mpox affects sensitive areas like the eyes, mouth, or genitals. However, scientists are still studying whether tecovirimat actually works and how effective it is.