Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. All Rights Reserved. Human monkeypox is a viral zoonosis endemic to West and Central Africa that has recently generated increased interest and concern on a global scale as an emerging infectious disease threat in the midst of the slowly relenting COVID disease pandemic. The hallmark of infection is the development of a flu-like prodrome followed by the appearance of a smallpox-like exanthem. Precipitous person-to-person transmission of the virus among residents of countries where it is nonendemic has motivated the immediate and widespread implementation of public health countermeasures.
In this review, we discuss the origins and virology of monkeypox virus, its link with smallpox eradication, its record of causing outbreaks of human disease in regions where it is endemic in wildlife, its association with outbreaks in areas where it is nonendemic, the clinical manifestations of disease, laboratory diagnostic methods, case management, public health interventions, and future directions.
The emergence of this disease has been characterized by rapid international spread with a growing number of cases in new geographic areas, a preponderance of disease among members of a distinct social group, and a somewhat atypical clinical presentation, collectively being shaped in part by increased international travel, human behavior, and viral pathogenicity.
In the regions of West and Central Africa where it is endemic, an increase in human case counts since the year has been fueled by climate change, deforestation, warfare, human migration, and decreased herd immunity from remote smallpox vaccination 1 — 3. In this review, we discuss the taxonomy and phylogeny of Monkeypox virus , its association with the smallpox vaccination campaign, its history of causing outbreaks of human disease in regions where it is endemic in wildlife, its association with outbreaks in areas where it is nonendemic, the clinical manifestations of disease, laboratory diagnostic methods, case management, public health interventions, and future directions.
Variola virus is the only member of this group that has no animal reservoir. Orthopoxviruses of animals that have not been associated with zoonotic transmission include Abatino macacapox virus , Ectromelia virus the cause of mousepox , Raccoonpox virus , Skunkpox virus , Taterapox virus the cause of gerbilpox , and Volepox virus 4. The nomenclature of Monkeypox virus is currently in a state of flux.
