Monkeypox is a virus that originates in wild animals like rodents and primates, and occasionally jumps to people. Most human cases have been in central and west Africa
The illness was first identified by scientists in 1958 when there were two outbreaks of a “pox-like” disease in research monkeys — thus the name monkeypox
Most patients only experience fever, body aches, chills and fatigue. People with more serious illness may develop a rash and lesions on the face and hands that can spread to other parts of the body
Monkeypox can be fatal for up to one in 10 people and is thought to be more severe in children.
It's the first time monkeypox appears to be spreading among people who didn't travel to Africa
In Europe, infections have been reported in Britain, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Most of the cases involve men who have had sex with men
On Wednesday, U.S. officials reported one case of monkeypox in a man who had recently traveled to Canada