monkeypox

[ muhng-kee-poks ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. (no longer in technical use) mpox ( def ). : MPX

Word History and Origins

Origin of monkeypox¹

First recorded in 1900–05; monkey ( def ) + pox ( def )

More About Monkeypox

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a contagious disease caused by a virus. The name monkeypox is used for both the disease and the virus that causes it. Monkeypox typically causes a rash that can start as painful, blisterlike bumps on the skin, especially on or near the genitals, the anus, and other areas such as the hands, feet, face, and chest.

Monkeypox is similar to smallpox but usually less severe. While most cases are not severe, monkeypox can cause serious illness.

Monkeypox is sometimes abbreviated as or alternately referred to as MPX, MPOX, MPV (for monkeypox virus), MPXV, or in other ways.

Where did monkeypox come from?

Monkeypox was first discovered in research monkeys in 1958. As a result, the disease and the virus that causes it were named monkeypox (following the naming convention used for several other pox-causing viruses found in animals, including chickenpox, cowpox, and many others). Although the monkeypox virus was first discovered in monkeys, its original source is unknown.

The first reported case of monkeypox in humans was in 1970 in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Historically, the disease has been mostly confined to Africa, with a few noted outbreaks in other parts of the world. In 2022, a major international outbreak of monkeypox included cases in more than 80 countries where it had never been reported before.

Misconceptions about monkeypox

As a disease, monkeypox is not “caused” by monkeys. It can be carried and spread by monkeys, but also other primates and some rodents.

Monkeypox is spread through skin-to-skin contact and through bodily fluids. It is not exclusively spread by sexual contact, but a majority of cases are. (For this reason, some medical professionals consider it a sexually transmitted disease, but are careful to note that it can also be transmitted through nonsexual but close physical contact.)

Monkeypox is not unique to gay and bisexual men. The association—and resulting stigmatization—is rooted in the fact that many cases are among men who have sex with men. As a result, much of the initial public health messaging during the 2022 outbreak was aimed at these impacted communities in an attempt to prevent spread within and outside of them. Many have compared the monkeypox outbreak and the response to it with the HIV/AIDS crisis, particularly in terms of parallels to stigmatization and lack of access to preventative measures such as vaccines.

Due to the potential confusion and stigmatization attached to its name, many have called for monkeypox to be renamed. Some use the abbreviations MPX, MPV (for monkeypox virus), or other variations.