Something that has been common in our news broadcasts over the years, is a rare viral disease known as "monkeypox". This disease was founded commonly in Central and Western Africa. Squirrels and primates are the carriers or transporters of this virus which is commonly related to the smallpox virus. .
In February of 1996 and October of 1997, there were 511 cases of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This was the largest outbreak ever which caused a great amount of fear that the virus had mutated in which made the disease more infectious. Then, in the late 1997 it was proven that the outbreak was not from mutation, but from human behavior. .
Monkeypox is transmitted through an animal bite or by its blood and bodily fluids. The symptoms are similar to other pox diseases so therefore a doctor's diagnosis is recommended. Some of the symptoms that people see are things such as a fever, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes sore throat, mouth sores, bodywide rash, pus-filled blisters and in some cases a shortness of breath. These symptoms are at their peak during the third to seventh day. Although, monkeypox, if treated, is not fatal and can be treated with a drug which has been successful on primates. It still has a 2-10% chance of being fatal in cases where children are the ones infected. In Africa, the fatality rate is 1 to 10%. .
The vaccine given to people for smallpox, is also used to prevent monkeypox. Although, it is not recommended by physicians to have unless there is a potential risk at hand or there could be future contact with the virus. .
Currently, as of June of 2003, there has been reports of various cases of monkeypox in the United States. Although this time, it was caused by prairie dogs, which were sold as pets and were infected with the monkeypox disease. As of this week, CNN reported that there were two suspected cases that would be a first in the Western Hemisphere.