Monkeypox History

Monkeypox History

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on July 23, 2022. 

The Africa CDC reported the initial human infection caused by the monkeypox virus was identified in Basankusu Territory, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in 1970.

Monkeypox in the USA

In 2003, forty-seven confirmed and probable human MPX cases were reported from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. These were the first human MPX cases reported outside of Africa.

All infected people became ill after contact with pet prairie dogs. The dogs were probably infected after being housed near imported small mammals from Ghana and imported to Texas in April 2003.

---- more information coming soon ----