Poxviridae is a family of viruses. Humans, vertebrates, and arthropods serve as natural hosts. There are currently 83 species in this family, divided among 22 genera, which are divided into two subfamilies. Diseases associated with this family include smallpox.Four genera of poxviruses may infect humans: orthopoxvirus, parapoxvirus, yatapoxvirus, molluscipoxvirus.
Orthopox: smallpox virus (variola), vaccinia virus, cowpox virus, monkeypox virus;
Parapox: orf virus, pseudocowpox, bovine papular stomatitis virus;
Yatapox: tanapox virus, yaba monkey tumor virus;
Molluscipox: molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV).
The most common are vaccinia (seen on Indian subcontinent) and molluscum contagiosum, but monkeypox infections are rising (seen in west and central African rainforest countries). The similarly named disease chickenpox is not a true poxvirus and is actually caused by the herpesvirus varicella zoster.