Monkeypox, a virus endemic in parts of Central and West Africa, is a milder form of smallpox. The virus was discovered in 1958 after an outbreak in monkeys raised for research, the CDC said. Monkeypox produces a rash that starts as a flat, red spot that becomes raised and filled with pus. Infected people also experience fever and body aches. Symptoms usually appear six to 13 days after infection, but can take up to three weeks. According to the World Health Organization, the illness can last two to four weeks, with severe cases usually occurring in children. The CDC says there is “no proven safe treatment” for monkeypox, but the FDA has approved the use of a smallpox vaccine and antiviral treatments to control the outbreak. The virus can be spread through body fluids, skin-to-skin contact, and respiratory droplets. Most of the cases this year have occurred in young men, many of whom identify as men who have sex with men.
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