Monkeypox vs smallpox: Expert on similarities and differences between the two
Hindustan TimesSeveral cases of monkeypox, the rare viral zoonotic disease, have been identified in various parts of the world - many European countries, US, Canada, Australia - ever since the first case related to the current spread was found in the UK on May 7. Monkeypox is similar to smallpox, but is a milder form caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same group of viruses known as orthopox virus. In an interview with HT Digital, Dr Sulaiman Ladhani, Consulting Chest Physician MD Chest and Tuberculosis, Masina Hospital, Mumbai, talks about monkeypox and its differences with smallpox, which was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980. How is monkeypox similar to smallpox Monkeypox is similar to smallpox, but is a milder form caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same group of viruses known as orthopox virus. "The other difference is that monkeypox is also spread from animal to person through rodents, monkeys, squirrels, through either broken skin or bites or scratches from them, or through direct contact with an infected animal's blood, body fluids or lesions," says Dr Ladhani.
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