Monkeypox (mpox) is a rare zoonotic disease that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus.  It was first discovered in 1958.  The first human case documented was in 1970 in Congo.

Monkeypox (mpox) common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Muscle pains
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Rash that forms blisters and crusts over

The time from exposure to showing the symptoms is around 10 days while the symptoms can last from two to four weeks[1].

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/symptoms.html

Though monkeypox (mpox) and smallpox bear the name of “pox”, they share more differences compare to similarities in general.  Monkeypox (mpox) is like a milder form caused by the monkeypox virus, which also belongs to the same group of viruses known as the orthopoxvirus.

Symptoms are like smallpox such as fever, headache, rash, and flu-like symptoms.

The differences between monkeypox and smallpox are listed below：

It is currently known that monkeypox (mpox) may be spread from handling bushmeat, from an animal bite or scratch, body fluids, objects that are contaminated, or close contact with a person.

There is currently no registered specific vaccine or antiviral treatment for monkeypox (mpox) available in Hong Kong. It has been shown that the smallpox vaccine may also be effective in preventing monkeypox, and a new vaccine called "Jynneos" has been licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the protection of monkeypox in 2019. A new antiviral drug was approved for the treatment of monkeypox in Europe recently.

To reduce the risk of infection, members of the public travelling to places affected by the monkeypox virus should:

• Avoid close physical contact with sick persons or animals
• Wear protective clothing and equipment including gloves and surgical masks when taking care of ill people or handling animals, and carry out regular hand washing after these procedures
• Thoroughly cook all animal products before eating; and
• Seek medical advice promptly for any suspicious symptoms.