The monkey pox outbreak is currently taking place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As of June 22, 2020, the health ministry of the DRC has reported over 400 cases with 13 deaths, mostly in the Equateur province in the northwest region of the country.
The virus, which is similar to smallpox, was first discovered in the 1970s in a laboratory in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is now found mostly in remote, rural areas of Central and West Africa. Patients with the virus experience fever, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes, as well as other symptoms like headache, muscle ache, back pain, and fatigue. Those at risk should practice good hygiene and handwashing, and should avoid contact with wild animals or any persons exhibiting symptoms.