The Monkey Pox Virus (MPV) is a rare viral infection of humans and animals that was first identified in 195 It is a member of the Orthopoxvirus family, the same family that includes the variola virus, which causes smallpox in humans.
MPV was initially found in non-human primates in Africa but since 2001, there have been several cases reported in human populations in several countries, including Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the United States. In 2022, it’s likely that the virus will continue to be a rare event in humans. However, the CDC advises that people travelling to countries where MPV is found should be aware of the risks associated with it, such as fever, headaches, and muscle aches.