Community News Alert; Monkeypox; An Emerging Infectious Disease in North America; Photo of praire dog
The Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is tracking the outbreak of human monkeypox in the United States. This Community News Alert is based on information from the CDC, state and local agencies, and the World Health Organization. Photo of praire dog; Suspected carrier: Praire dogs
What is Monkeypox?
  • Discovered in laboratory monkeys in 1958.
  • A rare smallpox-like disease, it occurs primarily in African rain forests.
  • In 1970, monkeypox was reported in humans for the first time.
  • In June 2003, monkeypox was reported in prairie dogs and humans in the United States in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.
  • Patients apparently became ill after close contact with infected prairie dogs recently purchased as pets.
  • Laboratory studies: monkeypox also can infect mice, rats, and rabbits.
  • Monkeypox typically lasts for 2 to 4 weeks; currently, no treatment is available.
Monkeypox Facts
Questions & Answers

 
For Health-Care Providers

Infection control:
General precautions
For Veterinarians
and Pet Owners


Evaluation & reporting of animals with suspect monkeypox
Images of
the Virus


Clinical photos
and micrographs

 
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Compiled by: Health Ink & Vitality Communications

Resources
 
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