The monkeypox virus continues to spread around the world, and on July 23 the World Health Organization declared monkeypox a "global health emergency," the organization's highest alert level. The once-rare disease has been present in parts of central and west Africa for decades, but monkeypox outbreaks did not spark a major outbreak outside the continent until May, when authorities began rolling out cases in Europe, North America and elsewhere. 
As of 5 PM on 4 August, a total of 26,864 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed worldwide, involving 88 countries worldwide. Outside Africa, a total of four deaths have been reported globally.

What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by a virus. It's characterized by a fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a widespread rash. The rash causes many lesions on the face and extremities.
Most cases of monkeypox occur in central and western Africa. Monkeypox in the United States is rare, though there have been a few confirmed cases in 2021.
Monkeypox is also a zoonotic disease. This means it can be transmitted from animals to humans, and vice versa. It can also be transmitted from one human to another.

What causes monkeypox? 
Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus. The virus is part of the orthopoxvirus genus, which includes the virus that causes smallpox. Scientists first identified the disease in 1958. There were two outbreaks among monkeys used for research. That's why the condition is called monkeypox. The first case of monkeypox in a human happened in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Monkeypox symptoms
The symptoms of monkeypox are similar to those of smallpox. But monkeypox symptoms are typically milder.
After you contract the monkeypox virus, it can take 5 to 21 daysTrusted Source for the first symptoms to appear. It takes 7 to 14 days in many cases.
The early symptoms include:
·fever, which is commonly the first symptom
·headache
·muscle aches
·back ache
·fatigue
·chills
·swollen lymph nodes, also known as lymphadenopathy
After the fever develops, a rash usually appears 1 to 3 days later. The rash typically affects the:
·face, which is the most common site
·palms of the hands
·soles of the feet
·mouth
·genitalia
·eyes, including the conjunctivae and cornea
The rash consists of lesions that evolve in the following order:
·macules, or flat discolored lesions
·papules, or slightly raised lesions
·vesicles, or bumps with clear fluid
·pustules, or bumps with yellowish fluid
·scabs
After the lesions dry and scab over, they fall off.
The symptoms of monkeypox generally last 2 to 4 weeks and go away without treatment.

Potential complications from having monkeypox
Possible complications of monkeypox include:
·bronchopneumonia
·sepsis
·inflammation of brain tissue, also known as encephalitis
·infection of the cornea, the clear outer layer of the eye
·secondary infections
An infection in the cornea may lead to vision loss.
Also, in severe cases, the lesions might form together and cause the skin to fall off in large pieces.
How does monkeypox spread?
Monkeypox spreads through direct contact with the following substances of animals or humans with the infection:
·blood
·bodily fluids
·skin or mucous lesions
·respiratory droplets, for human-to-human contact
These substances can enter the body via breathing, mucous membranes, or broken skin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that person-to-person spread is very low. When it does occur, it's usually through prolonged face-to-face contact and large respiratory droplets. This might happen if you're within a 6-foot radius with someone who has it for 3 hours or longer.
Transmission can also happen through:
·bites and scratches from infected animals
·eating the meat of an infected animal
·contact with a contaminated item, like bedding

The main disease carrier is unknown. It's thought that African rodents are involved.

In response to the increasing epidemic of monkeypox virus, Assure Tech has been actively exploring and developing a series of monkeypox virus detection products, which provide a variety of solutions for monkeypox virus and effectively meet the needs of various detection and application scenarios. Related products have obtained the European CE certification.