Monkeypox virus, illustration

Illustration of a patient with monkeypox showing symptoms. The symptoms shown here are rashes, fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, exhaustion, backache and chills. Monkeypox is a zoonotic virus from the Poxviridae family that causes monkeypox, a pox-like disease. This virus, which is found near rainforests in Central and West Africa causes disease in humans and monkeys, although its natural hosts are rodents. It is capable of human to human transmission. In humans it causes fever, swollen glands and a rash of fluid-filled blisters. The monkeypox virus can be transmitted by direct contact with broken skin or mucous membranes of a sick person, as well as by droplets. It is fatal in 10 per cent of cases. For a labelled version of this image, please see F036/7283., by FERNANDO DA CUNHA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY