Submitted:
24 March 2025
Posted:
26 March 2025
You are already at the latest version
Abstract
Keywords:
1. Introduction

2. Modern Epidemiological Trends
| Region | Case Count | Mortality Rate | Key Demographics | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Africa | Varies | 3% | Predominantly men (72%) | Higher prevalence compared to other regions |
| Western Africa | Varies | 1% | Various age groups | Fewer reported cases compared to Central Africa |
| Europe | Varies | Varies | Increasing incidences | Notably in individuals who traveled to endemic areas |
| North America | Varies | Varies | Younger population | Emergence in non-endemic regions in 2022 |
| Transmission Route | Description | Importance/Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Human-to-Human | Direct contact with respiratory droplets and lesions | Primary transmission route |
| Zoonotic Transmission | Contact with infected animals (rodents) | Reservoir species include Funisciurus and Heliosciurus |
| Fomites | Contaminated materials that may harbor the virus | Requires further research to confirm impact |
| Close Contact | Close interactions among individuals in social networks | 60% of cases associated with this mode of transmission |

3. Transmission Dynamics and Risk Factors
| Symptom | Description | Severity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fever | Initial symptom, similar to other viral infections | Mild to Moderate | Often accompanied by malaise and fatigue |
| Lymphadenopathy | Swelling of lymph nodes | Variable | Distinguishing feature compared to smallpox |
| Rash | Characteristic rash that evolves over time | Can be severe | Begins as macules, progresses to vesicles and pustules |
| Secondary Infections | Potential complications | Moderate to Severe | Can lead to additional health risks |
| Encephalitis | Rare but serious complication | High | Notable in immunocompromised individuals |
| Respiratory Distress | Complication in severe cases | High | Involves difficulty breathing, may require intervention |
4. Clinical Presentation and Disease Progression
| Measure | Description | Target Population | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaccination | Smallpox vaccine provides cross-protection | High-risk populations | Reevaluating strategies for monkeypox vaccination based on recent outbreaks |
| Public Awareness Campaigns | Educational initiatives to inform about risks and protective behaviors | General public | Essential for reducing transmission |
| Surveillance Programs | Enhanced monitoring systems to detect and respond to outbreaks | Health authorities | Important for immediate response |
| Research and Development | Ongoing studies into virus behavior and vaccine efficacy | Biomedical researchers | Focus on developing effective therapeutic strategies |
| Community Engagement | Involving local communities in health initiatives | Residents in endemic areas | Promotes trust and effectiveness in health interventions |

5. Preventive Measures and Public Health Implications

6. Conclusion and Future Directions
References
- Bunge, E. M., Kramstat, C., Kallai, J., & Spector, T. D. [2022]. The changing epidemiology of human monkeypox: A potential threat? PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 16, e0010141. [CrossRef]
- World Health Organization. [2022]. Multi-country monkeypox outbreak in non-endemic countries. https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON385.
- UK Health Security Agency. [2022]. Guidance: Monkeypox: Background information. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/monkeypox.
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. [2022]. Epidemiological update: Monkeypox multi-country outbreak. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/epidemiological-update-monkeypox-multi-country-outbreak.
- Walter, K., & Malani, P. N. [2022]. What is monkeypox? JAMA, 328[2], 222. [CrossRef]
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. [2022]. Risk assessment: Monkeypox multi-country outbreak. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/risk-assessment-monkeypox-multi-country-outbreak.
- World Health Organization. [2022]. Monkeypox fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/monkeypox.
- Kraemer, M. U. G., Pigott, D. M., & Dye, C. [2022]. Tracking the 2022 monkeypox outbreak with epidemiological data in real time. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 22, 941–942. [CrossRef]
- Zumla, A., Hautefort, I., & Ippolito, G. [2022]. Monkeypox outbreaks outside endemic regions: Scientific and social priorities. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 22, 929–931. [CrossRef]
- Venkatesan, P. [2022]. Global monkeypox outbreak. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 22, 950. [CrossRef]
- World Health Organization. [2022]. WHO Director-General declares the ongoing monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/23-07-2022-who-director-general-declares-the-ongoing-monkeypox-outbreak-a-public-health-event-of-international-concern.
- Zarocostas, J. [2022]. Monkeypox PHEIC decision hoped to spur the world to act. Lancet, 400, 347. [CrossRef]
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [2022]. 2022 monkeypox outbreak global map. https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/world-map.html.
- Faye, O., Freire, C. C., & Faye, I. [2018]. Genomic characterization of human monkeypox virus in Nigeria. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 18, 246. [CrossRef]
- Marennikov, S. S., & Moyer, R. W. [2005]. In Orthopoxviruses pathogenic for humans [pp. 11–18]. Springer. [CrossRef]
- Shchelkunov, S. N. [2013]. An increasing danger of zoonotic orthopoxvirus infections. PLoS Pathogens, 9, e1003756. [CrossRef]
- Shchelkunov, S. N., et al. [2001]. Human monkeypox and smallpox viruses: Genomic comparison. FEBS Letters, 509[1], 66–70. [CrossRef]
- Gubser, C., Hue, S., Kellam, P., & Smith, G. L. [2004]. Poxvirus genomes: A phylogenetic analysis. Journal of General Virology, 85[1], 105–117. [CrossRef]
- World Health Organization. [2022]. Smallpox. https://www.who.int/health-topics/smallpox#tab=tab_1.
- Henderson, D. A. [2011]. The eradication of smallpox: An overview of the past, present, and future. Vaccine, 29[Suppl 4], D7–D9. [CrossRef]
- Smith, G. L., & McFadden, G. [2002]. Smallpox: Anything to declare? Nature Reviews Immunology, 2, 521–527. [CrossRef]
- Strassburg, M. A. [1982]. The global eradication of smallpox. American Journal of Infection Control, 10[2], 53–59. [CrossRef]
- Parker, S., Nuara, A., Buller, R. M., & Schultz, D. A. [2007]. Human monkeypox: An emerging zoonotic disease. Future Microbiology, 2[1], 17–34. [CrossRef]
- Bayer-Garner, I. B. [2005]. Monkeypox virus: Histologic, immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic findings. Journal of Cutan Pathology, 32[1], 28–34. [CrossRef]
- Sale, T. A., Melski, J. W., & Stratman, E. J. [2006]. Monkeypox: An epidemiologic and clinical comparison of African and U.S. disease. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 55[3], 478–481. [CrossRef]
- Saijo, M., et al. [2009]. Virulence and pathophysiology of the Congo Basin and West African strains of monkeypox virus in non-human primates. Journal of General Virology, 90[10], 2266–2271. [CrossRef]
- Alakunle, E. F., & Okeke, M. I. [2022]. Monkeypox virus: A neglected zoonotic pathogen spreads globally. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 20, 507–508. [CrossRef]
- Jezek, Z., Szczeniowski, M., Paluku, K. M., & Mutombo, M. [1987]. Human monkeypox: Clinical features of 282 patients. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 156[2], 293–298. [CrossRef]
- Parker, S., & Buller, R. M. [2013]. A review of experimental and natural infections of animals with monkeypox virus between 1958 and 2012. Future Virology, 8[2], 129–157. [CrossRef]
- Guarner, J., et al. [2004]. Monkeypox transmission and pathogenesis in prairie dogs. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 10[4], 426–431. [CrossRef]
- Hutson, C. L., et al. [2010]. Dosage comparison of Congo Basin and West African strains of monkeypox virus using a prairie dog animal model of systemic orthopoxvirus disease. Virology, 402[1], 72–82. [CrossRef]
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).