The Emergence of Monkeypox

Posted on 2022-09-02

Monkeypox was recently declared a public health emergency, having had more than 50,000 cases confirmed worldwide. Monkeypox is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus, that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of central and West Africa. It has comparable symptoms to that of smallpox, but less severe.

It enters the host through oropharynx, nasopharynx or intradermal routes. Symptoms can include, high fever, headache, lymphadenopathy, systemic blisters and pustules.

The pathogen

There are two distinct genetic clades of the monkeypox virus. This includes the central African (Congo Basin) clade and the west African clade. The Congo Basin clade has historically caused more severe disease and was thought to be more transmissible.

The clinical presentation of monkeypox resembles that of smallpox. Smallpox is a related orthopoxvirus infection which was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980. Monkeypox is less contagious than smallpox, with less severe illness.

Vaccines used during the smallpox eradication programme also provided protection against monkeypox.

More recently, newer vaccines have been developed. One vaccine has been approved for the prevention of monkeypox, as well as an antiviral agent which has been licensed for treatment.

The incubation period (from infection to onset of symptoms) of monkeypox is usually 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days.

The infection can be divided into two periods:

The invasion period (0–5 days) consists of fever, intense headaches, swelling of the lymph nodes, back pain, muscle aches, and a lack of energy. Swelling of the lymph nodes is a distinctive feature of monkeypox.

Skin eruption usually begins within 1–3 days of a fever. This is a rash concentrated to the face and extremities. Most commonly, rashes are seen on the face, palms of hands and soles of the feet. Lesions may also appear, and can vary from a few, to thousands.

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Sources/Further reading:

Discover further details on Monkeypox from the World Health Organisation here

For more information from the CDC, navigate here 

For more information from the NHS, navigate here