Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease initially transmitted to humans by animals. First identified in 1970, the disease has long been contained to a dozen African countries, but it has been detected outside of the continent since 2022. VIDEOGRAPHIC
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00:00Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a zoonotic viral disease initially transmitted to humans
00:12by animals. First identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970, the disease has
00:19long been contained to a dozen African countries, but it has been detected outside of the continent
00:25since 2022. It is transmitted by contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids,
00:32including saliva. The incubation period lasts from 6 to 16 days. Symptoms last between 2 to 4 weeks
00:41and include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills and fatigue.
00:48Then rashes may occur, often on the face and spread to other parts of the body,
00:53including the mouth, eyelids, cornea and genitals. The rash develops into blisters, which then scab
01:00over and eventually fall off. There is no cure for Mpox. Most people recover from the viral
01:06infection within weeks. However, in poor countries with low quality healthcare, up to a tenth of
01:11infected people may die, especially children. Vaccines are available, but they remain expensive
01:18and hard to get in Africa.
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