Monkeypox is a member of the snug little orthopox virus family; one of the Human DNA Viruses. Closely related to (and sharing many characteristics with) smallpox, it was protected against by the smallpox vaccine. The eradication of smallpox, however, has resulted in every child being born after 1980 remaining unvaccinated against monkey pox. The death rate is roughly ten percent in the youth population.
Almost every case of Monkey pox, in recent history, has occured in central and western Africa, near the rainforests that house the infectious little chimp bastards. The most common way for a human to catch monkey pox is by getting their ass bitten by a monkey (go figure) or squirrel
Of recent concern, according to the World Health Organization,is the fact that the pattern of monkey pox infection in humans has begun to change, the rate of person to person infection growing rapidly. While in the past monkey pox outbreaks lasted only for very short periods of time (and generally did not leave the confines of one remote village), recent cases have been followed that lasted through multiple generations, continuing to infect new hosts for over a year.
If you want to avoid monkey pox, don't go to Zaire. The WHO is monitoring the 'Democratic Republic of the Congo' (yes, that's still Zaire) for monkey pox outbreaks, due to concern that the virus may pose a significant public health problem.