Rising Monkeypox Cases and Decreased Smallpox Immunity Raise Concerns of Potential Pandemic

The monkeypox virus (MPV) has recently re-emerged and has become a cause of concern among health authorities, particularly as the world continues to grapple with the COVID-۱۹ pandemic (۱, ۲). The first case of monkeypox was reported in a nine-month-old child in the Democratic Republic of Congo in ۱۹۷۰, and between ۱۹۷۰ and ۱۹۷۹, over ۴۸ cases were reported in six African countries (۳). Monkeypox is a zoonotic virus that can spread rapidly among humans and poses a serious threat to public health. Between May ۴ and July ۱۲, ۲۰۲۲, over ۱۰,۰۰۰ new cases of MPV have been reported from non-endemic areas worldwide. However, this number may be underestimated, due to limited access to MPV diagnostic facilities in certain regions. Monkeypox is primarily transmitted through contact with infected animals, as well as direct contact (sexual or skin), respiratory droplets, and shared items such as towels and bedding. The symptoms of monkeypox are similar to those of smallpox, but monkeypox is milder and presents as high fever, headache, lymphadenopathy, and systemic blisters and rashes. The death rate of monkeypox is about ۱% to ۱۰% (۴, ۵).

کلیدواژه ها:

Monkeypox ، Smallpox ، Potential Pandemic ، World