Introduction

Monkeypox is a virus that was first identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria in the 1970s. Since then it has appeared around the world. More concerning is that the virus appears to be evolving and there are some unusual symptoms.

The world has known about monkeypox for decades. Why is it spreading again now? How serious is the current outbreak?

This week on The Inquiry we ask, are nations doing enough to combat monkeypox?

Contributors: Prof Dimie Ogoina, Infectious Disease Physician at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Niger Delta University and Chief Medical Director of the NDUTH and the President of the Nigerian Infectious Diseases Society

Jason Cianciotto, Vice President of Communications and Policy at Gay Men’s Health crisis in New York

Dr Boghuma Titanji, Assistant Professor of medicine at Emory University in Atlanta

(Image: multiple monkeypox viruses, Uma Shankar sharma, Getty Images)