Where is monkeypox found

So far, no new cases have been found. The symptoms include:. Initially fever, headaches, swellings, back pain, aching muscles and a general listlessness. Once the fever breaks, a rash can develop, often beginning on the face then spreading to other parts of the body, most commonly the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

The rash, which can be extremely itchy, changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off. The lesions can cause scarring. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. CDC is not responsible for Section compliance accessibility on other federal or private website. Cancel Continue. The first case of monkeypox in humans was recorded in in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Scientists have so far discovered two distinct genetic groups of monkeypox virus—Central African and West African. The United Kingdom, Israel and Singapore have recorded cases of monkeypox in six passengers, all of whom were returning from Nigeria.

Topics viral diseases smallpox virus. Get our Daily News Capsule Subscribe. Thank you for subscribing to our Daily News Capsule newsletter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is helping to contact the patient's fellow passengers and assessing their potential risks. Monkeypox is related to smallpox, which was eradicated worldwide in , thanks to the smallpox vaccine.

Both illnesses cause a distinctive rash that lasts for about a month. Smallpox had a higher fatality rate than monkeypox. It usually takes seven to 14 days after a person is exposed to the monkeypox virus to develop symptoms , according to the CDC, which begin like many other viruses: fatigue, fever, headache, muscle aches. Within a week of symptom onset, an infected person develops a bumpy, raised rash that often spreads to the entire body.

The person is considered contagious until those raised bumps have scabbed over and fallen off.