Monkeypox is very similar to smallpox, belonging to the same viral family as smallpox and sharing its ability to infect humans.  Unlike smallpox, monkeypox has an animal reservoir (want to guess which animal?) making it much harder to eradicate.   Of the 47 total cases documented between 1970-1979 in sub-Saharan Africa, 7 were fatal.  Furthermore, there were secondary infections, meaning that the virus spread directly from human to human.* 
Can monkeypox be weaponized, as smallpox was?  In this week’s conference, analyze monkeypox and its potential emergence as a new pandemic disease.   Consider, in an ongoing dialog with your classmates, the following points in addition to your own added discussions:

Might monkeypox colonize prarie dogs the U.S.?
Do current smallpox countermeasures protect against monkeypox? 
Should a limited research program be funded to promote protection specifically against monkeypox? 
Should monkeypox treatments be made a part of our Strategic National Stockpile? 

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