Monkeypox

Monkeypox is a disease found in animals that can, in some cases, affect humans. This particular disease was not identified until 1958. The signs of the disease included pus-filled pustules commonly known as pox. These skin pustules were first found on monkeys, and so the disease came to be known as monkeypox.

How can someone become infected with the disease? First, it is important to note that, unlike some other diseases, this particular disease is hard to spread from person to person. To become infected, a person must eat or be bitten by an infected animal.

People in the United States have had symptoms of what was thought to be monkeypox. In 2003, there was an outbreak of the disease, although fortunately no one died. The people who had the symptoms were quarantined as were any animals thought to have been connected with the virus. This quarantine was initiated to stop the spread of the disease. How did these people contract this unusual sickness? The seventy-one people who were infected were believed to have caught the disease from prairie dogs. These animals had been purchased as pets. The prairie dogs were infected after being housed in a pet shop that had another animal that carried the disease. This animal was a rat imported from Africa to be sold later as a pet.

The best way to prevent being infected by this disease is to stay away from animals that might have had exposure to the disease. When purchasing pets, deal with reputable people. If infected, a person can survive the disease. Sadly, some cases of monkeypox have resulted in death.