[Monkey pox virus infection in humans in the Central African Republic]

A human monkeypox outbreak is reported which occurred in January 1984 in the extreme south-west areas of the Central African Republic. Six persons were found to be affected in a Pygmy camp with an estimated population of 50 residents. In the two affected families, out of 11 members, only unvaccinated children and a 22 year old unvaccinated woman contracted the disease. The disease was of moderate severity in two patients and very mild in the other four. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by virus isolation from skin lesions of 4 patients and by sero-immunologic tests in all of them. The clinically apparent monkeypox case reported in the Central African Republic in 1983, the presently described outbreak, as well as information on the disease obtained from Pygmies and missionary paramedical staff who are in frequent contact with them, suggest that monkeypox is enzootic in the tropical rain forest in the south-west areas of the Central African Republic.