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Monkeypox is a poxvirus in the same family as variola – the virus that causes smallpox – and cowpox viruses and likely evolved in animals before jumping to humans.

This subset includes the smallpox, vaccinia and cowpox viruses.

Edward Jenner, an English doctor, then figured out that exposing people to cowpox, a much more mild disease, could stave off smallpox.

Essentially, the backbone of this vaccine is identical to one routinely used to immunise elephants against a virus called cowpox.

The first known use stretches back to 1882 but references pop up earlier related to fluid from cowpox pustules used in inoculations, Sokolowski said.