mpox

noun

ˈem-ˌpäks 

: a zoonotic disease especially of central and western Africa that is caused by a poxvirus (species Monkeypox virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus), that is transmitted in humans usually by direct contact with the infectious lesions or bodily fluids of an infected person or animal, and that causes initial symptoms including fever, headache, swollen lymph glands, myalgia, and fatigue followed by skin eruptions typically on the face, hands, feet, and mouth with lesions that eventually fill with fluid before sloughing off : monkeypox

Note: This disease was first identified in monkeys in 1958, although the natural reservoir (see reservoir sense 3a) has not been identified. The mpox virus has been found in various animals including rodents and primates.

Note: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on November 28, 2022 that it will begin using the preferred name mpox over monkeypox to refer to this disease due to the stigmatizing nature of the original name.

Examples of mpox in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There were also a variety of other outbreaks and crises, including an unexpected mpox outbreak last year. —Craig Whitlock, BostonGlobe.com, 20 June 2023

To warn people, said Dr. Chris Braden, who heads the CDC’s mpox response. —Mike Stobbe, Chicago Tribune, 30 May 2023

More than 30,000 cases and 42 deaths from mpox have been recorded by the CDC since the outbreak began in May 2022. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2023

In May, doctors in the United States detected two cases of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox). —Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

2022, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

mpox

noun

ˈem-ˌpäks 

: a zoonotic disease especially of central and western Africa that is caused by a poxvirus of the genus Orthopoxvirus (species Monkeypox virus), that is transmitted in humans usually by direct contact with the infectious lesions or bodily fluids of an infected person or animal, and that is typically characterized by flu-like symptoms followed one to four days later by skin eruptions on the face, mouth, and extremities with lesions that eventually fill with fluid before crusting over and sloughing off : monkeypox

Note: This disease was first identified in monkeys in 1958, although the natural reservoir (see reservoir sense 2a) has not been identified. The mpox virus has been found in various animals including rodents and primates.

Note: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on November 28, 2022 that it will begin using the name mpox to refer to this disease due to the stigmatizing nature of the original name.