Monkeypox: A New Challenge in Global Health Security

Mahendra Pal^1, , Tesfaye Rebuma², Wesenu Berhanu², Bekabil Endale² and Ravindra Zende³

¹Narayan Consultancy of Veterinary Public Health, and Microbiology, Bharuch, Gujarat, India

²Shaggar City Administration Sebeta Sub- city Agricultural office, Sebeta, Oromia, Ethiopia

³Department of Veterinary Public Health, Mumbai Veterinary College, Parel, Mumbai, India

Cite this paper:
Mahendra Pal, Tesfaye Rebuma, Wesenu Berhanu, Bekabil Endale and Ravindra Zende. Monkeypox: A New Challenge in Global Health Security. American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease. 2024; 12(3):37-43. doi: 10.12691/ajeid-12-3-2

Abstract

Emerging viral zoonoses remain a global threat to public health with challenges to develop strategies for their control. Monkeypox, first identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970, has become a growing global health concern, particularly due to its two distinct viral clades: the more severe Central African (Congo Basin) clade and the less virulent West African clade. Recent data from 2022 to July 2024 reports 37,583 cases and 1,451 deaths across 15 African Union Member States, with the majority occurring in the DRC. Nations of the world. Presently, the disease is found in more than 120 nations of the world, including India. Very recently, the World Health Organization declared monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern. Clinical manifestations include fever, lymphadenopathy, headache, chills, rigor, and rashes on different parts of the body including the face, palm, soles and oral cavity. The disease can occur in sporadic as well as in epidemic form, and is more severe in children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised subjects. Laboratory assistance is required to make an unequivocal diagnosis of monkeypox. Most patients recover within 7 to 14 days. The resurgence of monkeypox, driven by several factors like increased global travel and reduced smallpox vaccination coverage, underscores the need for enhanced surveillance, public education, and preventive strategies, including vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis, to control future outbreaks. The One Health approach seems imperative in the control of this emerging viral zoonosis that has posed a global public health threat.

Keywords:
Central African clade Emerging outbreaks Monkeypox public health West African clade Zoonotic diseases

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