Overview of Monkeypox and Historical Context

Monkeypox, a virus related to smallpox, was first identified in 1958 during an outbreak among laboratory monkeys in Denmark, although it primarily spreads from rodents in Africa. Historically, monkeypox has been considered a low-grade viral outbreak with limited human-to-human transmission, usually emerging from zoonotic sources like bushmeat. The virus's name was revised in 2022 to 'MPOX' to avoid perpetuating racist stereotypes associated with its origins. Recent years have witnessed a significant shift in its transmission dynamics, particularly with a notable outbreak among certain communities, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency.