Monkeypox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a virus related to the smallpox virus. The most at risk group for contracting monkeypox are those who have close contact with infected animals, such as those living in regions where monkeypox is endemic including some parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Liberia.
Other individuals at risk are those who have been infected with the virus through contact with an infected person, such as through close contact with a patient’s bodily fluids or secretion. Others at risk include laboratory workers that are exposed to the virus, and individuals who may have been exposed to the virus through contact with contaminated materials or through contact with animals infected with the virus.