2022–2023 mpox outbreak

The 2022 to 2023 mpox outbreak was a global outbreak of the viral disease previously known as monkeypox, which until then had been seen mainly in parts of Central and West Africa. The first cases were identified in the United Kingdom in May 2022, and the virus spread rapidly to dozens of countries, mostly through close physical contact, with the largest numbers among men who have sex with men. Most cases were mild, with a painful rash and fever, but some were severe, and the disease caused deaths. The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern in July 2022. Vaccines developed for smallpox were used to protect those at risk, and the disease was renamed mpox to avoid stigma.

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