An Overview of Monkeypox: Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Transmission, and Public Health Implications

Abstract

Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by a DNA virus within the Ortho poxvirus genus of the Poxviridae family. There are two variants of mpox, clade I and clade II, and it's quite difficult to distinguish in between them based solely on a clinical symptom. On July 23, 2022, the World Health Organization declared the monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), as the majority of reported cases were from non-endemic countries. Despite extensive containment efforts, the global outbreak was attributed to the clade IIb strain has resulted in over 100,000 cases across 122 countries, with 115 of those nations having never reported mpox before. It may spread through direct contact with an infected person through skin-to-skin contact, mouth-to-mouth interactions, and close face-to-face encounters that produce infectious respiratory particles, contaminated surfaces, or infected animals. Additionally, the virus can be transmitted from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy or to the newborn during or after delivery. This infection, similar to smallpox, is primarily characterized by cutaneous manifestations, notably rashes in the genital region. In addition to dermatological symptoms, patients may experience systemic manifestations including fever, headache, lymphadenopathy, and myalgia. The disease can lead to significant complications, some of which may be severe or life-threatening, necessitating timely medical intervention and public health measures to mitigate transmission and protect vulnerable populations. This review summarizes the clinical features of monkeypox virus (MPXV), along with the laboratory techniques currently employed for its detection, Transmission and treatment guidelines.