Iranian Journal of Medical Microbiology

Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic infectious disease caused by the Monkeypox viruses, a type of Orthopoxvirus of the family Poxviridae, which is endemic to Africa. Monkeypox, which is usually a self-limiting illness, starts with flu-like symptoms (fever, muscle aches, chills, and fatigue). Usually, within 1 to 3 days (sometimes longer) after the onset of fever, the patient develops a rash that often starts on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body. Lesions may appear all over the body. Decreased immunity of populations due to the cessation of smallpox vaccination in the past, has paved the way for Monkeypox. This is shown by the increase in the number of cases as well as the recurrence of the disease in some countries. Due to the importance of the Monkeypox and the limited number of Persian language sources in this regard, the present article aimed to introduce this disease as a zoonotic infectious disease that has recently, been reported in several countries.