"Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a rare zoonosis caused by an orthopoxvirus and in general, produces a mild flu-like illness and rash in humans. Virologically and clinically the condition is similar to smallpox, the first and only viral disease to be eradicated by humans. In 2022, a new outbreak of mpox was identified in the UK, with spread mostly to Europe and the Americas."
"In 2022, a new outbreak of cases, all infections of the West African clade, first in the United Kingdom and then elsewhere in Europe and the US, occurred. This is the first time that any chains of transmission have been demonstrated in Europe without evidence of an epidemiological connection to known endemic areas in Africa 2."
"Although the 2022 outbreak in the UK was clustered in men having sex with men, it is not thought to be a sexually-transmitted infection, and rather is due to close human contact and associated transmission 2."
"In 2003, there was an outbreak of 72 cases, 34 confirmed, and a further 38 probable, in the United States which were transmitted by pet prairie dogs which acted as the vector; these were the first reported cases outside Africa. The origin of the outbreak was sourced to a batch of imported infected rodents from Ghana which entered the US in April 2003. These small mammals included Gambian giant pouched rats, rope squirrels, and dormice 1,8."
"Supportive care is the only treatment currently (c.2022) advised for mpox. Some experimental antivirals have shown activity in animals and have been tried with some success in sicker cases 2."
"Supportive care is the only treatment currently (c.2022) advised for mpox. Some experimental antivirals have shown activity in animals and have been tried with some success in sicker cases 2."
Expected headings
"Rash"
"Encephalitis"
"HIV coinfection"
"Deep tissue abscess formation"
"Ophthalmological complications"
"Transmission"
"It is interesting to consider why mpox appears to be on the rise in the 2000s; prevailing wisdom suggests that it is the combination of two main factors, firstly the decline of population-wide immunity against smallpox. Secondly, the continual encroachment of humans into previously wild areas following environmental degradation 3."
"Rarely mpox cases may develop encephalitis, and this has been seen both in Africa and in the United States; in some cases, it is fatal 4,6,8,9."
"In 2003, there was an outbreak of 72 cases, 34 confirmed, and a further 38 probable, in the United States which were transmitted by pet prairie dogs which acted as the vector; these were the first reported cases outside Africa. The origin of the outbreak was sourced to a batch of imported infected rodents from Ghana which entered the US in April 2003. These small mammals included Gambian giant pouched rats, rope squirrels, and dormice 1,8."
"The pouched rats were transported with prairie dogs as they travelled to an animal distribution centre in Illinois; during transit, the prairie dogs caught the mpox from the giant pouched rats. From Illinois, the prairie dogs were passaged to a further distributor in Wisconsin, and then onto pet stores where consumers purchased the infected animals 1,8."
"Mpox virus (MPXV) is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, from the Poxviridae family. Smallpox virus (variola virus) is a close relative. Genetically, there are two clear-cut clades of mpox, clade I (previously known as Central African (or Congo Basin) clade) and clade II (previously known as West African clade). The 2022 outbreak is officially caused by the subvariant clade IIb according to the WHO 14. The virus is a double-stranded DNA virus with a protein envelope 1,5,7."
"Supportive care is the only treatment currently (c.2022) advised for mpox. Some experimental antivirals have shown activity in animals and have been tried with some success in sicker cases 2."