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Key Diagnostic Tests.

Preliminary symptoms similar to those of smallpox (malaise, fevers, rigors, vomiting, headache, backache) but may also include lymphadenopathy that is not found in smallpox. A smallpox-like rash begins to develop 2-3 days after this but it is often "cropped" making it look like chickenpox.

• Detection of antigens or antibody to the agent in the blood (serology)
• ELISA
• PCR

Symptoms and effects.

Symptoms and the course of the disease are very similar, to those of smallpox but fatalities are rarer at 3-10% of of patients.

Medical and Physical Countermeasures.

Vaccination (Immunoprophylaxis)

Smallpox vaccine, which is safe and effective, also protects against monkeypox.

 Specific Therapy

A number of drugs, most notably the cytosine analog cidofovir, in an advanced stage of testing for treatment of smallpox may be useful against monkeypox.

Supportive care

• antibiotics may be needed to deal with secondary infection;
• maintain electrolytes with fluids.

The virus is relatively hardy and is resistant to common phenolic disinfectants. It can be killed with polar, lipophilic solvents such as chloroform or by treating with steam or autoclaving of smaller objects.

Agent Properties and Potential Uses

Relatively little is known about monkeypox virus as only a handful of cases have been reported. It is closely related to smallpox virus and there has been some concern that it may take the place of smallpox virus as a pathogen. However, it is not easily transmitted between people and is generally thought to self-limiting. Like the smallpox virus itself, infection with monkeypox virus is likely to be misdiagnosed by doctors no longer trained to identify variola.

Terrorist Acquisition and Attempted Use.

• None confirmed.