Emergence of monkeypox virus: a public health threat

The human monkeypox virus is a zoonotic infection that is closely related to smallpox virus. It more commonly exists in forested habitats of western and central Africa. In the recent outbreak of the monkeypox virus, the total number of positive cases escalated to 32,760 and 12 deaths were reported so far. With rodents being primary reservoirs, the virus spreads through animals, fomites, respiratory droplets and, direct contact. It typically presents as a vesiculo-pustular rash along with fever, headache, malaiseand chills. Taking this clinical spectrum into consideration, differential diagnosis to rule out smallpox is very much significant. Though there are no licensed therapies for monkeypox, treatment regimens and vaccination for small pox can also be used formonkeypox. Effective prevention relies on avoiding contact and limiting respiratory exposure with the infected patients by following standard precautions. This review article gives an insight into epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, transmission, vaccination, and prevention of infection.

Viruela símica: revisión bibliográfica / Monkeypox: Bibliographic Review

La viruela símica es una enfermedad que ocurre en los monos, sin embargo también se han presentado casos en humanos desde 1970, transformándose en una zoonosis de origen viral, la sintomatología es similar a la viruela pero menos grave. Objetivo: Proporcionar información actualizada sobre la viruela símica, situación epidemiológica, sintomatología, letalidad, diagnóstico, tratamiento y medidas de prevención Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda de literatura científica en las bases de datos Organización Mundial de la Salud, Google Académico y PubMed, se eligieron los descriptores o palabras relacionadas con la enfermedad y se realizó la búsqueda para la descripción de reportes de casos y brotes producidas por la viruela símica. Resultados: Desde que se reportó el primer caso en humanos, han existido brotes en el continente africano, fuera de éste, se han reportados varios casos y brotes en otros países, la mayoría en los Estados Unidos. El último evento se reporta en mayo de 2022 y es de preocupación mundial, debido a la aparición en varios países no endémicos. Conclusiones: La presencia de casos de viruela símica en humanos se ha mantenido desde su aparición, la ausencia de un tratamiento específico y vacunas autorizadas para su administración, podrían generar un aumento en la morbimortalidad(AU)

Monkeypox is a disease that occurs in monkeys, however there have also been cases in humans since 1970, becoming a zoonosis of viral origin, the symptoms are similar to smallpox but less severe. Objective: To provide updated information on monkeypox, epidemiological situation, symptomatology, lethality, diagnosis, treatment and prevention measures. Materials and methods: A search of scientific literature was carried out in the World Health Organization, Google Scholar and PubMed databases. , the descriptors or words related to the disease were chosen and the search was performed for the description of case reports and outbreaks caused by monkeypox. Results: Since the first human case was reported, there have been outbreaks on the African continent, outside of Africa, several cases and outbreaks have been reported in other countries, most in the United States. The last event is reported in May 2022 and is of global concern, due to the appearance in several non-endemic countries. Conclusions: The presence of cases of monkeypox in humans has been maintained since its appearance, the absence of a specific treatment and vaccines authorized for its administration, could generate an increase in morbidity and mortality(AU)

Conocimiento sobre viruela del mono en profesionales de la salud, Lima-Perú / Knowledge about monkeypox among health professionals, Lima-Peru

Introducción: la pandemia por SARS-CoV 2 nos demostró que no estábamos preparados, que no se repita. Objetivo: conocer el nivel de conocimiento sobre etiología, síntomas, tratamiento y prevención de la enfermedad viruela del mono en profesionales de la salud. El estudio: observacional-descriptivo, incluyó 251 profesionales de la salud, ambos sexos participación voluntaria. Se elaboró un cuestionario incluyéndose las variables edad, sexo y preguntas sobre la enfermedad viruela del mono; análisis descriptivos de los datos. Hallazgos: bajo conocimiento sobre etiología, síntomas, tratamiento y prevención de la enfermedad. Menor conocimiento sobre formas de contagio (21,9%), tiempo de incubación (21,9%), características del virus (24,3%) y diagnóstico laboratorial (25,1%); mayor conocimiento sobre contagiosidad en periodo de incubación (61,0%), presencia de erupciones como característica de la enfermedad (53,8%) y no existencia de tratamiento específico (52,2%). Conclusión: conocimiento bajo; urge la formulación de estrategias para poder enfrentar, de ser necesario, los posibles casos.

Background:the SARS-CoV 2 pandemic showed us that we were not prepared, that it will not happen again. to know the level of knowledge about Objective:the etiology, symptoms, treatment and prevention of monkeypox disease in health professionals. observational-descriptive, included 251 The study:health professionals, both sexes, voluntary participation. Aquestionnaire was developed including the variables age, sex and questions about the monkeypox disease, descriptive analysis of the data. Finding: low knowledge about the etiology, symptoms, treatment and prevention of the disease. Less knowledge about forms of contagion (21.9%), incubation time (21.9%), characteristics of the virus (24.3%) and laboratory diagnosis (25.1%); greater knowledge about contagiousness in the incubation period (61.0%), presence of rashes as a characteristic of the disease (53.8%) and lack of specific treatment (52.2%). Conclusion: low knowledge; The formulation of strategies is urgently needed to be able to face possible cases, if necessary.

Smallpox: can we still learn from the journey to eradication.

One of the most celebrated achievements of immunology and modern medicine is the eradication of the dreaded plague smallpox. From the introduction of smallpox vaccination by Edward Jenner, to its popularization by Louis Pasteur, to the eradication effort led by Donald Henderson, this story has many lessons for us today, including the characteristics of the disease and vaccine that permitted its eradication, and the obviousness of the vaccine as a vector for other intractable infectious diseases. The disease itself, interpreted in the light of modern molecular immunology, is an obvious immunopathological disease, which occurs after a latent interval of 1-2 weeks, and manifests as a systemic cell-mediated delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) syndrome. The vaccine that slayed this dragon was given the name vaccinia, and was thought to have evolved from cowpox virus, but is now known to be most closely related to a poxvirus isolated from a horse. Of interest is the fact that of the various isolates of orthopox viruses, only variola, vaccinia and monkeypox viruses can infect humans. In contrast to the systemic disease of variola, vaccinia only replicates locally at the site of inoculation, and causes a localized DTH response that usually peaks after 7-10 days. This difference in the pathogenicity of variola vs. vaccinia is thought to be due to the capacity of variola to circumvent innate immunity, which allows it to disseminate widely before the adaptive immune response occurs. Thus, the fact that vaccinia virus is attenuated compared to variola, but is still replication competent, makes for its remarkable efficacy as a vaccine, as the localized infection activates all of the cells and molecules of both innate and adaptive immunity. Accordingly vaccinia itself, and not modified replication incompetent vaccina, is the hope for use as a vector in the eradication of additional pathogenic microbes from the globe.

Infecção em humanos por varíola bovina na região de Ibertioga, estado de Minas Gerais / Human infection with bovine smallpox in the Ibertioga region, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Introdução e objetivo: a varíola bovina é uma zoonose causada pela proliferação do vírus do gênero ortopoxvírus, sendo os bovinos a fonte primária de infecção humana. É importante apresentar relatos de casos dessa doença para que os profissionais de saúde, em especial os médicos, fiquem atentos para seu diagnóstico e tratamento corretos. Resultados: quatro casos de varíola bovina em humanos foram identificados e comprovados por exames sorológicos na região de Ibertioga, Minas Gerais. Todos os pacientes apresentavam sintomas em comum, como febre alta, falta de apetite, mialgia e lesões de pele. Conclusão: deve ser dada mais atenção aos casos dessa zoonose, no sentido de seu correto diagnóstico, adequada terapia de suporte e boa orientação para os pacientes, para que possa se evitar a transmissão intrafamiliar, bem como para animais com os quais venham a ter contato, considerando que a quase totalidade dos casos ocorre em áreas rurais.

Introduction and objective: Bovine smallpox is a zoonosis caused by Ortopxvirus proliferation, bovines being the primary source for human infection. Case reports of this disease are important to raise health professionals? consciousness of correct diagnosis and treatment.Results: Four cases of human infection with bovine smallpox were identified and confirmed by serologic exams in the Ibertioga region, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil Patients shared common symptoms such as high fever, decreased appetite, myalgia, and skin injury. Conclusion:The cases of this zoonosis should be paid more attention in order to enhance diagnosis, support therapy and guidance for patients witha view to avoiding intra-familiar and further animal transmission (as virtually all cases are reported in rural areas).