Monkeypox

Updated content in: 01/02/2023

"Since early May 2022, cases of monkeypox have been reported from countries where the disease is not endemic, and continue to be reported in several endemic countries. Most confirmed cases with travel history reported travel to countries in Europe and North America, rather than West or Central Africa where the monkeypox virus is endemic. This is the first time that many monkeypox cases and clusters have been reported concurrently in non-endemic and endemic countries in widely disparate geographical areas." (WHO)

Outbreak and control

"In May 2022, multiple cases of monkeypox were identified in several non-endemic countries. Studies are currently underway to further understand the epidemiology, sources of infection, and transmission patterns." (WHO)

Documents in VHL

Transmission

"Animal-to-human (zoonotic) transmission can occur from direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or cutaneous or mucosal lesions of infected animals (…) Human-to-human transmission can result from close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects." (WHO)

Documents in VHL

Diagnosis

"Monkeypox presents with fever, an extensive characteristic rash and usually swollen lymph nodes. It is important to distinguish monkeypox from other illnesses such as chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, syphilis and medication-associated allergies. The incubation period of monkeypox can range from 5 to 21 days."    (WHO)

Documents in VHL

Therapeutics

"Treatment of monkeypox patients is supportive dependent on the symptoms. Various compounds that may be effective against monkeypox virus infection are being developed and tested." (WHO)

Documents in VHL

...