Monkeypox Virus: Transmission, Signs and Symptoms, Prevention, and Epidemiology

Monkeypox virus causes a zoonotic disease that is similar to smallpox-like illness. This review focuses on the overall epidemiology of monkeypox infection along with the transmission, signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention of the infection among humans. The early symptoms of the infection are flu-like and include fever, malaise, headache, papulopustular rash, sore throat and enlarged lymph nodes. Previously, it was reported in African countries only, with majority of the reported cases in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Later in 2003, the first case of monkeypox infection was reported outside Africa in the U.S. with additional cases in the UK, Israel and Singapore. The transmission of monkeypox virus occurs primarily from animal to human and secondarily from human to human by contact with respiratory secretions or lesions of infected persons. Moreover, monkeypox virus can also be transmitted sexually from male to male and results in rashes and lesions around the genital or anal area of the infected person. Currently, there is no specific treatment for monkeypox infection. However, anti-viral treatment for smallpox, cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients, and the vaccine vaccinia virus intravenous immunoglobulins are the choice of therapeutics for treating the infection. This review focuses on the overall epidemiology of monkeypox infection along with the transmission, signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention of the infection among humans.