Human monkeypox: history, presentations, transmission, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

Mahdi Zahmatyar, Asra Fazlollahi, Alireza Motamedi, Maedeh Zolfi, Fatemeh Seyedi, Seyed Aria Nejadghaderi, Mark J.M. Sullman, Reza Mohammadinasab, Ali Asghar Kolahi, Shahnam Arshi, Saeid Safiri

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Human monkeypox is a zoonotic infection that is similar to the diseases caused by other poxviruses. It is endemic among wild rodents in the rainforests of Central and Western Africa, and can be transmitted via direct skin contact or mucosal exposure to infected animals. The initial symptoms include fever, headache, myalgia, fatigue, and lymphadenopathy, the last of which is the main symptom that distinguishes it from smallpox. In order to prevent and manage the disease, those who are infected must be rapidly diagnosed and isolated. Several vaccines have already been developed (e.g., JYNNEOS, ACAM2000 and ACAM3000) and antiviral drugs (e.g., cidofovir and tecovirimat) can also be used to treat the disease. In the present study, we reviewed the history, morphology, clinical presentations, transmission routes, diagnosis, prevention, and potential treatment strategies for monkeypox, in order to enable health authorities and physicians to better deal with this emerging crisis.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1157670
JournalFrontiers in Medicine
Volume10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Keywords

  • diagnosis
  • epidemiology
  • global
  • monkeypox
  • presentations
  • prevention
  • treatment

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