Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

What you need to know about monkeypox

Divya Srinivasan and Tejas Sekhar
Conditions
June 4, 2022
Share
Tweet
Share

Recently, several European countries have reported outbreaks of monkeypox following the first case (index case) reported in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2022, linked to a traveler from Nigeria. Monkeypox belongs to a family of other pox-like viruses and is a rare viral disease characterized by flu-like symptoms and a blistering rash that typically begins on the face and spreads to other areas of the body. Monkeypox, as with all zoonotic diseases, originated from an animal reservoir (experts speculate it to be rodents) and has mutated to infect humans.

The first case in 1958 was identified in primates being used for research, and the first human infection was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. Monkeypox has since been observed to be primarily localized to Western and Central Africa. Australia and Canada have also identified several infected individuals, and as of June 2, 2022, there have been 21 confirmed positives in ten states across the United States. Globally, this constitutes more than 550 cases at the time of writing. Surprisingly, the spread of the disease has neither been linked to the first case in the U.K. nor direct travel from endemic areas. As such, it is not yet clear how or why the incidence of monkeypox is increasing and what hidden factors might be driving transmission, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) and international public health officials to employ contract tracing strategies to seek connections between those who have tested positive.

What is currently known is that monkeypox is transmitted primarily through close contact with skin lesions, bodily fluids, and respiratory droplets. Men aged between 20 and 50 years, many of whom have sex with other men (MSM), are notably included in a majority of the cluster cases, thereby indicating that sexual contact may be a significant route of transmission. The correlation with sexual activity does not corroborate increased contamination or virulence; it simply highlights that close contact and skin lesions may allow for monkeypox to spread most effectively. Anne Rimoin, professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, suggests that the virus may have coincidentally been introduced to the MSM community and spread from there. She implores the public to avoid stigmatization, especially during a crucial time where more information is needed to grasp the entirety of the situation.

The WHO has currently stated that it is unlikely for monkeypox to become the next pandemic given its low infectivity—especially compared to COVID-19—the risk to the general public is relatively small. This isn’t the first time that the U.S. has dealt with this virus. In 2003, there was an outbreak of 71 cases due to the sale of infected prairie dogs across the country. Extensive laboratory testing, vaccine distribution, and updated FDA regulations on wildlife trade contained the situation. According to previous reports, death caused by monkeypox is rare (three to six percent of cases) in endemic regions. Emerging data shows the current strain of the virus circulating may have a mortality rate of ~3 percent according to the WHO, although some sources claim that it may be as little as one percent. Regardless, careful monitoring and public awareness are vital to hedge against further spread. There are currently two vaccines that can be used to protect against monkeypox. Since smallpox is a close relative, the ACAM2000 smallpox (variola) vaccine is considered to be a viable option. JYNNEOS is a vaccine that is specifically licensed for monkeypox, and data suggests both are 85 percent effective. As of right now, there is no recommendation from public health officials for the general public to be vaccinated against the disease. As experts continue to monitor the evolving situation, they urge people to keep practicing good hand hygiene and to avoid contact with infected individuals.

Divya Srinivasan is an undergraduate student. Tejas Sekhar is a graduate student. 

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

How to tackle the physician shortage

June 4, 2022 Kevin 3
…
Next

How patient education can save lives

June 4, 2022 Kevin 2
…

Tagged as: Infectious Disease

Post navigation

< Previous Post
How to tackle the physician shortage
Next Post >
How patient education can save lives

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Divya Srinivasan and Tejas Sekhar

  • A look into the safety of children products following baby formula recalls

    Divya Srinivasan and Tejas Sekhar
  • Why the baby formula shortage happened

    Divya Srinivasan and Tejas Sekhar
  • Help stop health care burnout

    Divya Srinivasan and Tejas Sekhar

Related Posts

  • School vaccine exemptions must be for medical conditions only

    Shetal Shah, MD
  • The COVID vaccine selfie: The caption matters as much as the picture

    Alicia Billington, MD, PhD
  • Should only infectious disease specialists be allowed to prescribe antibiotics?

    Craig Bowron, MD
  • The culture of perfection in medicine is a disease

    Andy Cruz, MD
  • Where’s the big COVID data?

    Anuradha Kolluru, MD and Rakesh Lattupalli, MD
  • Chronic disease is making medical education worse

    Jason J. Han, MD

More in Conditions

  • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

    Kara Wada, MD
  • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

    Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH
  • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

    Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD
  • How one unforgettable ER patient taught a nurse about resilience

    Kristen Cline, BSN, RN
  • Why regular exercise is the best prescription for lifelong health

    George F. Smith, MD
  • When the weight won’t budge: the hidden physiology of grief, stress, and set point

    Sarah White, APRN
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
    • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

      Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH | Conditions
    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why specialist pain clinics and addiction treatment services require strong primary care

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Conditions
    • Harassment and overreach are driving physicians to quit

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why peer support can save lives in high-pressure medical careers

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • When a medical office sublease turns into a legal nightmare

      Ralph Messo, DO | Physician
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Who gets to be well in America: Immigrant health is on the line

      Joshua Vasquez, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The shocking risk every smart student faces when applying to medical school

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Clinical ghosts and why they haunt our exam rooms

      Kara Wada, MD | Conditions
    • High blood pressure’s hidden impact on kidney health in older adults

      Edmond Kubi Appiah, MPH | Conditions
    • Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How declining MMR vaccination rates put future generations at risk

      Ambika Sharma, Onyi Oligbo, and Katrina Green, MD | Conditions
    • The physician who turned burnout into a mission for change

      Jessie Mahoney, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...