Monkey pox is an infectious disease that is caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus group of viruses. It is typically found in wild animals such as monkeys, but can be transmitted to humans either through contact with an infected animal or person, or through close contact with an animal or person that has been infected.
Symptoms can include fever, headache, backache, swollen lymph nodes, skin lesions, and sometimes, difficulty breathing. The disease typically runs its course in three to four weeks, and most people recover without incident.