Ask the Doctor

Why is it called monkeypox?

I want to know why the disease that is currently ravaging Africa is called Monkeypox.

Angela (by SMS)

 

The disease is so called because it was first discovered in a colony of research monkeys. These animals were being used for research on the polio vaccines. The outbreak of a pox-like disease in these monkeys occurred 50-60 days after the monkeys arrived, which means the animals did not get sick in Africa. The monkeys were injected with penicillin and streptomycin on arrival. The monkeypox symptoms were a generalized petechial rash, while the general health of the animals appeared unaffected.

The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Congo during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. There have been outbreaks in Africa, over the years.

READ ALSO: NERC: Abuja Disco to pay N1.69bn fines for overbilling customers

Dr. Wale Okediran

Recent Posts

‘PDP built strong individuals, ignored strong institutions, these strong individuals are now destroying the party with impunity’

The feverish defection of politicians and their supporters from one political party to another, mostly…

12 minutes ago

Nigerian agriculture should go beyond cutlasses, hoes; it needs intellectual youths, tech to blossom —Olayemi Ojeokun, Nigerian US-based agronomist, sustainability advocate

Olayemi Ojeokun is a Nigerian US-based scholar, agronomist, and sustainability advocate. In this interview by…

47 minutes ago

In the end, politics of survival may not guarantee survival

In Nigeria’s political evolution, perhaps no strategy has been abused more than the “politics of…

2 hours ago

Davido, Chris Brown set for joint tour, EP in 2026

Afrobeats sensation Davido and American R&B star Chris Brown are gearing up for a massive…

3 hours ago

Bovi, Taoma, Teni, Funke Akindele, others share personal stories on #WithChudeLive

•Someone called my son an imbecile on X –Bovi Africa’s first-ever talk concert, WithChude Live,…

3 hours ago

APWEN gets new Kogi chairman

Every family in Nigeria has been advised to ensure they have an engineer, particularly a…

4 hours ago

Welcome

Install

This website uses cookies.