• Monkeypox occurrences in Europe and the United States have been mild; with some being so modest that they have been confused for other sexually transmitted viruses.
• The monkeypox virus, which has now been diagnosed in hundreds of people in 26 countries.
• It may have been silently spreading for years until its stunning global debut.

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Infectious disease doctors and genetic lab scientists are scrambling for answers as to why a virus that has been discovered in West Africa for half a century; and rarely spreads from person to person made such a spectacular and alarming appearance in the last month. During a press conference on Wednesday, Dr. Rosamund Lewis, the World Health Organization’s technical lead for monkeypox, said, “There may have been undiscovered transmission for a while.” “What we don’t know is how long it could have taken. We’re not sure if it’ll be weeks, months, or perhaps a couple of years.”