Monkeypox 2022: Emerging zoonotic epidemic threat, future implications, and way ahead

Introduction: Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease that is caused by a virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus and is closely related to smallpox and cowpox viruses. The emerging epidemic amid the current COVID-19 pandemic is a matter of concern and warrants urgent public health attention with k...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Suraj Kapoor, Ashvin Varadharajan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2023-01-01
Series:Journal of Public Health and Primary Care
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jphpc.org/article.asp?issn=2772-3666;year=2023;volume=4;issue=1;spage=8;epage=11;aulast=Kapoor
_version_ 1827894737893326848
author Suraj Kapoor
Ashvin Varadharajan
author_facet Suraj Kapoor
Ashvin Varadharajan
author_sort Suraj Kapoor
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease that is caused by a virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus and is closely related to smallpox and cowpox viruses. The emerging epidemic amid the current COVID-19 pandemic is a matter of concern and warrants urgent public health attention with key issues discussed in the article. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore emerging zoonotic, epidemic threats, future implications, and the way ahead in respect of monkeypox. Methodology: Secondary data from official government sites, press information, latest articles, newspapers, and the WHO website were extracted and discussed in the article. The current epidemiology of monkeypox with the difference from the COVID-19 pandemic is highlighted in the study. The most probable factors for the emergence and recent outbreak are also discussed. The period of the study was from May 20, 2022, to May 27, 2022, and was conducted in the medical college of Western Maharashtra. Results and Discussion: Total number of 25 articles/government/international websites were assessed. While comparing the number of cases among different countries across the globe, the present outbreak has involved different countries with no geographical continuity, with a maximum number of cases from Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America. A comparison of epidemiological determinants of COVID-19 and monkeypox was done which reveals the lesser pandemic potential of monkeypox as compared to COVID-19. Conclusion: The present monkeypox outbreak scenario is different from the previous outbreaks, but with lesser pandemic potential as compared to COVID-19. However, with the increase in the incidence of monkeypox cases in different countries, the fear of cross-border transmission is real. Robust public health surveillance and control measures are vital to address this threat.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T22:10:48Z
format Article
id doaj.art-40f12746cc5349e28749e3425e3be1b1
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2772-3666
2772-3674
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T22:10:48Z
publishDate 2023-01-01
publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
record_format Article
series Journal of Public Health and Primary Care
spelling doaj.art-40f12746cc5349e28749e3425e3be1b12023-07-23T11:51:30ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Public Health and Primary Care2772-36662772-36742023-01-014181110.4103/jphpc.jphpc_21_22Monkeypox 2022: Emerging zoonotic epidemic threat, future implications, and way aheadSuraj KapoorAshvin VaradharajanIntroduction: Monkeypox is a rare zoonotic disease that is caused by a virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus and is closely related to smallpox and cowpox viruses. The emerging epidemic amid the current COVID-19 pandemic is a matter of concern and warrants urgent public health attention with key issues discussed in the article. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore emerging zoonotic, epidemic threats, future implications, and the way ahead in respect of monkeypox. Methodology: Secondary data from official government sites, press information, latest articles, newspapers, and the WHO website were extracted and discussed in the article. The current epidemiology of monkeypox with the difference from the COVID-19 pandemic is highlighted in the study. The most probable factors for the emergence and recent outbreak are also discussed. The period of the study was from May 20, 2022, to May 27, 2022, and was conducted in the medical college of Western Maharashtra. Results and Discussion: Total number of 25 articles/government/international websites were assessed. While comparing the number of cases among different countries across the globe, the present outbreak has involved different countries with no geographical continuity, with a maximum number of cases from Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America. A comparison of epidemiological determinants of COVID-19 and monkeypox was done which reveals the lesser pandemic potential of monkeypox as compared to COVID-19. Conclusion: The present monkeypox outbreak scenario is different from the previous outbreaks, but with lesser pandemic potential as compared to COVID-19. However, with the increase in the incidence of monkeypox cases in different countries, the fear of cross-border transmission is real. Robust public health surveillance and control measures are vital to address this threat.http://www.jphpc.org/article.asp?issn=2772-3666;year=2023;volume=4;issue=1;spage=8;epage=11;aulast=Kapoorcovid-19monkeypoxsmallpoxzoonotic
spellingShingle Suraj Kapoor
Ashvin Varadharajan
Monkeypox 2022: Emerging zoonotic epidemic threat, future implications, and way ahead
Journal of Public Health and Primary Care
covid-19
monkeypox
smallpox
zoonotic
title Monkeypox 2022: Emerging zoonotic epidemic threat, future implications, and way ahead
title_full Monkeypox 2022: Emerging zoonotic epidemic threat, future implications, and way ahead
title_fullStr Monkeypox 2022: Emerging zoonotic epidemic threat, future implications, and way ahead
title_full_unstemmed Monkeypox 2022: Emerging zoonotic epidemic threat, future implications, and way ahead
title_short Monkeypox 2022: Emerging zoonotic epidemic threat, future implications, and way ahead
title_sort monkeypox 2022 emerging zoonotic epidemic threat future implications and way ahead
topic covid-19
monkeypox
smallpox
zoonotic
url http://www.jphpc.org/article.asp?issn=2772-3666;year=2023;volume=4;issue=1;spage=8;epage=11;aulast=Kapoor
work_keys_str_mv AT surajkapoor monkeypox2022emergingzoonoticepidemicthreatfutureimplicationsandwayahead
AT ashvinvaradharajan monkeypox2022emergingzoonoticepidemicthreatfutureimplicationsandwayahead