Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease, caused by a virus that is contracted from sick animals, most frequently rats, to human beings. Also, it can spread to other people. An outbreak cannot be easily sustained by person-to-person transmission alone. The viral metazoan of monkeypox was recognized in Congo Basin and West Africa; the virus from the Congo Basin is more virulent than any other globally.

A thorough review of the literature was conducted using PubMed databases and documents from various health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).

Presently, the world is experiencing an outbreak of the disease globally, with cases recorded in developing and developed countries. In this review, the authors provided an overview of monkeypox disease, global incidence rates, mode of transmission, and, most importantly, preventive measures.

It was concluded that, for monkeypox disease to be prevented, there must be a holistic synergy between all sectors globally, with the WHO leading this front by first designating the disease as a significant global health problem. Likewise, disease surveillance measures, adherence to preventive measures, sensitization programs, provision of vaccines, funds, and other logistical supports are recommended to prevent and control monkeypox disease globally.