| The world has recently seen an emergence or re-emergence of infectious diseases such as smallpox, SARS, West Nile virus, and monkeypox. |
| This is the first time that monkeypox, a smallpox-related virus usually found in Africa, has infected humans in the United States. |
| Today monkeypox is not spreading fast, but the slow decline of immunization to smallpox may nudge monkeypox up into the breakout zone. |
| EcoHealth Alliance is now a leading voice calling for better tracking and data collection to prevent the next SARS or monkeypox outbreak. |
| Smallpox vaccine has been reported to reduce the risk of monkeypox among previously vaccinated persons in Africa. |
| The first monkeypox outbreak occurred in the United States in June 2003 when several people were sickened by infected pet prairie dogs. |
