Monkeypox In Us 2024 Update. Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus orthopoxvirus. In the democratic republic of congo (drc), children make up the majority of the 14,000 reported cases and 511 deaths so far in 2024.

The rash looks like blisters and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital and/or anal regions, mouth, throat or the eyes. A pheic is the highest level of alarm under international health law.