Convergence of SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody levels to a population immune setpoint.

BACKGROUND: Individual immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 are well-studied, while the combined effect of these responses on population-level immune dynamics remains poorly understood. Given the key role of population immunity on pathogen transmission, delineation of the factors that drive population immune evolution has critical public health implications. METHODS: We enrolled individuals 5 years and older selected using a multistage cluster survey approach in the Northwest and Southeast of the Dominican Republic. Paired blood samples were collected mid-pandemic (Aug 2021) and late pandemic (Nov 2022). We measured serum pan-immunoglobulin antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) and random forest models were used to analyze the relationship between changes in antibody levels and various predictor variables. Principal component analysis and partial dependence plots further explored the relationships between predictors and antibody changes. FINDINGS: We found a transformation in the distribution of antibody levels from an irregular to a normalized single peak Gaussian distribution that was driven by titre-dependent boosting. This led to the convergence of antibody levels around a common immune setpoint, irrespective of baseline titres and vaccination profile. INTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that titre-dependent kinetics driven by widespread transmission direct the evolution of population immunity in a consistent manner. These findings have implications for targeted vaccination strategies and improved modeling of future transmission, providing a preliminary blueprint for understanding population immune dynamics that could guide public health and vaccine policy for SARS-CoV-2 and potentially other pathogens. FUNDING: The study was primarily funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant U01GH002238 (EN). Salary support was provided by Wellcome Trust grant 206250/Z/17/Z (AK) and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator grant APP1158469 (CLL).

Mpox treatment evolution: past milestones, present advances, and future directions.

An underestimated worldwide health concern, Monkeypox (Mpox) is becoming a bigger menace to the world's population. After smallpox was eradicated in 1970, Mpox was found in a rural region of Africa and quickly spread to other African countries. The etiological agent of the Mpox infection, the Mpox virus, is constantly evolving, and its capability for cross-species transmission led to a global outbreak in 2022 which led to several deaths throughout the world. This review aims to showcase the progressive treatment methods and emerging innovations in the diagnostic and prevention strategies for controlling Mpox. The clinical trial data for antiviral drugs were systematically collected and analyzed using statistical tests to determine the most effective antiviral treatment. Emerging viral protein inhibitors that are under investigation for Mpox treatment were also scrutinized in this review. Additionally, modern diagnostic methods, such as the Streamlined CRISPR On Pod Evaluation platform (SCOPE) and graphene quantum rods were reviewed, and the efficacy of mRNA vaccines with traditional smallpox vaccines used for Mpox were compared. The statistical analysis revealed that tecovirimat (TCV) is the most effective antiviral drug among the other evaluated drugs, showing superior efficacy in clinical trials. Similarly, mRNA vaccines offer greater effectiveness compared to conventional smallpox vaccines. Furthermore, emerging nanomedicine and herbal drug candidates were highlighted as potential future treatments for Mpox. The findings underscore the effectiveness of TCV in treating Mpox and highlight significant advancements in preventive treatments. The review also points to innovative approaches in vaccine technology and potential future therapies, including nanomedicine and herbal remedies, which may enhance Mpox management.

What are the frequent complaints voiced by inpatients and physicians amidst the emerging infectious diseases? - An illustrative instance of the COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) can disrupt the healthcare system, causing regulatory changes that affect the healthcare-seeking process and potentially increase patient-physician dissatisfaction. This study aimed to collect and analyze patients' and physicians' complaints during an EID outbreak to inform potential clues regarding medical quality and patient safety enhancement in future dealing with EIDs, employing text mining methodologies. METHODS: In this descriptive study, complaint records from January 2020 to February 2023 at West China Hospital, a national medical facility in China, were analyzed. Patient and physician complaints have been retrospectively retrieved from the record from the medical department, and then categorized into distinct groups based on reporting reasons, encompassing COVID-19-related policies, healthcare access, availability of medical resources, and financial concerns. RESULTS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, 541 COVID-19-related complaints were identified: 330 (61.00%) from patients and 211 (39.00%) from physicians. The monthly volume of complaints fluctuated, starting at 10 in 2020, peaking at 21 in 2022, and dropping to 14 in 2023. Most complaints from inpatients were expressed by older males aged 40 to 65 (38.82%, 210/541). The primary source of complaints was related to mandatory COVID-19 policies (79.30%, 429/541), followed by concerns regarding timely healthcare services (31.61%, 171/541). Few complaints were expressed regarding the insufficiency of medical resources (2.77%, 15/541) and the high costs (4.25%, 23/541). The frequency of complaints expressed by doctors and patients in the emergency department was higher compared with other departments (24.58%, 133/541). CONCLUSIONS: Increased complaints may serve as a primitive and timely resource for investigating the potential hazards and drawbacks associated with policies pertaining to EIDs. Prompt collection and systematical analysis of patient and physician feedback could help us accurately evaluate the efficacy and repercussions of these policies. Implementing complaints-based assessment might improve care standards in forthcoming healthcare environments grappling with EIDs.

Amugulang virus, a novel hantavirus harboured by small rodents in Hulunbuir, China.

The Hulunbuir region, known for its diverse terrain and rich wildlife, is a hotspot for various natural epidemic diseases. Between 2021 and 2023, we collected 885 wild rodent samples from this area, representing three families, seven genera, and eleven species. Metagenomic analysis identified three complete nucleic acid sequences from the S, M, and L segments of the Hantaviridae family, which were closely related to the Khabarovsk virus. The nucleotide coding sequences for S, M, and L (1392 nt, 3465 nt, and 6491 nt, respectively) exhibited similarities of 82.34%, 81.68%, and 81.94% to known sequences, respectively, while protein-level analysis indicated higher similarities of 94.92%, 94.41%, and 95.87%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis placed these sequences within the same clade as the Khabarovsk, Puumala, Muju, Hokkaido, Topografov, and Tatenalense viruses, all of which are known to cause febrile diseases in humans. Immunofluorescence detection of nucleic acid-positive rodent kidney samples using sera from patients with hemorrhagic fever and renal syndrome confirmed the presence of viral particles. Based on these findings, we propose that this virus represents a new member of the Hantaviridae family, tentatively named the Amugulang virus, after its primary distribution area.

Toscana virus (TOSV) meningitis with atypical characteristics: Report of two cases.

Toscana virus (TOSV) is an emerging cause of central nervous system (CNS) infections, especially in endemic countries during summer. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is usually clear, with < 500 leukocytes/mm3, normal glucose (> 60 % serum glucose) and normal (< 45 mg/dL) to slightly increased protein levels. Here we present two cases of TOSV meningitis with misleading CSF characteristics observed at Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital (Bagno a Ripoli, Florence, Italy). Case 1 presented with signs and symptoms of meningitis. CSF was opalescent on macroscopic examination, with 1192 cells/mm3, hypoglycorrhachia (30 % serum glucose) and hyperproteinorachia (228.0 mg/dL). TOSV meningitis was confirmed with serology. Case 2 presented with headache, vomiting and mild neck stiffness. CSF was slightly turbid, with 1092 cells/mm3, normal glucose (61 % serum glucose) and slightly increased protein (77.0 mg/dL) levels. TOSV meningitis was confirmed with serology and molecular test on CSF. We performed a literature review including cases of TOSV neuroinvasive infections in which CSF characteristics were reported. Pleocytosis > 500 cells/mm3 was reported in 12/62 (19.4 %) patients, hypoglycorrhachia in 3/62 (4.8 %) patients, mild hyperproteinorachia (45 - 75 mg/dL) in 7/62 (11.3 %) patients and severe hyperproteinorachia (> 75 mg/dL) in 40/62 (64.5 %) patients. TOSV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of CNS infections in endemic areas during the warm season even when CSF examination shows atypical results.

Cryo-EM-based discovery of a pathogenic parvovirus causing epidemic mortality by black wasting disease in farmed beetles.

We use cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) as a sequence- and culture-independent diagnostic tool to identify the etiological agent of an agricultural pandemic. For the past 4 years, American insect-rearing facilities have experienced a distinctive larval pathology and colony collapse of farmed Zophobas morio (superworm). By means of cryo-EM, we discovered the causative agent: a densovirus that we named Zophobas morio black wasting virus (ZmBWV). We confirmed the etiology of disease by fulfilling Koch's postulates and characterizing strains from across the United States. ZmBWV is a member of the family Parvoviridae with a 5,542 nt genome, and we describe intersubunit interactions explaining its expanded internal volume relative to human parvoviruses. Cryo-EM structures at resolutions up to 2.1 Å revealed single-strand DNA (ssDNA) ordering at the capsid inner surface pinned by base-binding pockets in the capsid inner surface. Also, we demonstrated the prophylactic potential of non-pathogenic strains to provide cross-protection in vivo.

The Role of High-Level Isolation Units in Response to High-Consequence and Emerging Infectious Diseases: Experience of the German STAKOB Network.

This case study describes the experience of the German Permanent Working Group of Competence and Treatment Centers for High Consequence Infectious Diseases, known as STAKOB (Ständiger Arbeitskreis der Kompetenz- und Behandlungszentren für Krankheiten durch hochpathogene Erreger). STAKOB brings together public health authorities (competence centers) and high-level isolation units (treatment centers) to collaborate on the clinical management of high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) and emerging infectious diseases. The network is coordinated by the Robert Koch Institute, Germany's federal public health institute. The main tasks of STAKOB are to strengthen HCID clinical and public health management and increase expert knowledge on HCID and non-HCID emerging infectious diseases in Germany. STAKOB enables the exchange of knowledge and experiences; development of guidelines on infection prevention and control measures, clinical management, and therapy; and support for the World Health Organization and other outbreak responses internationally. The past years have shown how important the STAKOB network is for Germany-not only in providing critical care for HCID cases but also increasing capacity to support public health and clinical management of emerging infectious disease cases. However, maintaining several high-level isolation units in Germany requires a high commitment of financial, material, and human resources. Due to the rarity of HCID and emerging infectious disease events, maintaining the appropriate level of preparedness and ensuring sufficient investments is an ongoing struggle. Nevertheless, it is essential to have a network ready to react to HCID and non-HCID emerging infectious diseases in times of a changing biosecurity and infectious landscape.

Investigating the emergence of a zoonotic virus: phylogenetic analysis of European bat lyssavirus 1 in the UK.

European bat lyssavirus 1 (EBLV-1, Lyssavirus hamburg) is predominantly detected in serotine bats (Eptesicus serotinus) and is responsible for the majority of bat rabies cases in mainland Europe. A passive bat rabies surveillance scheme detected the virus in a serotine bat in the UK for the first time in October 2018. As of May 2024, 34 cases have been reported, 20 of which involved contact with an animal and 5 reported human contact. We investigated the emergence of EBLV-1 by undertaking comprehensive sequence analysis and Bayesian phylogenetics, based on complete virus genomes of 33 UK sequences and 108 sequences covering six countries in mainland Europe (1968-2023), including 21 French EBLV-1-positive RNA samples sequenced for this study. Sequence analysis revealed extreme similarity among UK EBLV-1 sequences (99.9%-100%), implying a single source of introduction rather than multiple independent introductions. Bayesian analysis revealed that the UK EBLV-1 sequences shared their most recent common ancestor with an EBLV-1 sequence from a serotine bat detected in Brittany, France, in 2001, with an estimated date of divergence of 1997. Within the UK sequences, the earliest divergence was estimated to occur in 2007. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular epidemiology of an emerging zoonotic pathogen and improved understanding of the risks posed to public and animal health.

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Kinetics in Serum, Saliva, and Urine, Iran, 2018.

Little is known about using noninvasive samples for diagnosing Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). We investigated detection of CCHF virus in serum, saliva, and urine samples. Our results indicate that serum is the best sample type for CCHF diagnosis; saliva can be used for noninvasive sampling.

Risk for Waterborne Transmission and Environmental Persistence of Avian Influenza Virus in a Wildlife/Domestic Interface in Mexico.

Aquatic habitats provide a bridge for influenza transmission among wild and domestic species. However, water sources pose highly variable physicochemical and ecological characteristics that affect avian influenza virus (AIV) stability. Therefore, the risk of survival or transmissibility of AIV in the environment is quite variable and has been understudied. In this study, we determine the risk of waterborne transmission and environmental persistence of AIV in a wild/domestic bird interface in the Central Mexico plateau (North America) during the winter season using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). A total of 13 eco-epidemiological factors were selected from public-access databases to develop the risk assessment. The MCDA showed that the Atarasquillo wetland presents a higher persistence risk in January. Likewise, most of the backyard poultry farms at this wild-domestic interface present a high persistence risk (50%). Our results suggest that drinking water may represent a more enabling environment for AIV persistence in contrast with wastewater. Moreover, almost all backyard poultry farms evidence a moderate or high risk of waterborne transmission especially farms close to water bodies. The wildlife/domestic bird interface on the Atarasquillo wetland holds eco-epidemiological factors such as the presence of farms in flood-prone areas, the poultry access to outdoor water, and the use of drinking-water troughs among multiple animal species that may enhance waterborne transmission of AIV. These findings highlight the relevance of understanding the influence of multiple factors on AIV ecology for early intervention and long-term control strategies.

Ingrained: Rice farming and the risk of zoonotic spillover, examples from Cambodia.

Rice cultivation in Southeast Asia is a One Health interface intersecting human, animal, and environmental health. This complexity creates a potential for zoonotic transmission between diverse reservoirs. Bats harbor viruses like Nipah; mosquitoes transmit arboviruses; rodents spread hantaviruses. Domestic animals- including pigs with influenza and dogs with rabies and aquatic animals can also transmit pathogens. Climate change and urbanization may further disrupt rice agro-ecologies. This paper explores animal viral reservoirs, vectors, and historical practices associated with risk in rice farming. Climate and land use changes could enhance spillover. Solutions are proposed, including surveillance of animals, vectors, water, and air to detect threats before major outbreaks, such as improved biosecurity, hygiene, and livestock vaccinations. Ecological viral surveillance and agricultural interventions together can reduce zoonotic transmission from rice farming.

Early-stage loss of ecological integrity drives the risk of zoonotic disease emergence.

Anthropogenic pressures have increasingly disrupted the integrity of ecosystems worldwide, jeopardizing their capacity to provide essential contributions to human well-being. Recently, the role of natural ecosystems in reducing disease emergence risk has gained prominence in decision-making processes, as scientific evidence indicates that human-driven pressure, such as habitat destruction and deforestation, can trigger the emergence of zoonotic infectious diseases. However, the intricate relationship between biodiversity and emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) remains only partially understood. Here, we updated the most comprehensive zoonotic EID event database with the latest reported events to analyse the relationship between EIDs of wildlife origin (zoonoses) and various facets of ecological integrity. We found EID risk was strongly predicted by structural integrity metrics such as human footprint and ecoregion intactness, in addition to environmental variables such as tropical rainforest density and mammal species richness. EID events were more likely to occur in areas with intermediate levels of compositional and structural integrity, underscoring the risk posed by human encroachment into pristine, undisturbed lands. Our study highlights the need to identify novel indicators and targets that can effectively address EID risk alongside other pressing global challenges in sustainable development, ultimately informing strategies for preserving both human and environmental health.

A Novel Framework for Internal Responses to Detection of Pathogens in Wastewater by Public Health Agencies.

OBJECTIVES: To build on the success of wastewater surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic, jurisdictions funded under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Wastewater Surveillance System are looking to expand their wastewater programs to detect more pathogens. However, many public health agencies do not know how to use the collected wastewater data to formulate public health responses, underscoring a need for guidance. To address this knowledge gap, the Houston Health Department (HHD) developed a novel response framework that outlines an internal action plan that is tailored by pathogen type after detection of various pathogens in wastewater. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In July 2023, HHD met with subject matter experts (eg, bureau chiefs, program managers) in internal departments, including epidemiology, immunization, and health education, to discuss the general outline of the response framework and each department's anticipated role after pathogen detection. RESULTS: The internal framework established a flow for notifications and the actions to be taken by departments in HHD, with the goals of (1) ensuring timely and efficient responses to pathogen detections, (2) creating accountability within departments for taking their assigned actions, and (3) making certain that HHD was prepared for intervention implementation when a new pathogen was detected. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: As more public health agencies expand their wastewater surveillance programs to target additional pathogens, development of internal action plans tailored to departmental capacity and programs is an important step for public health agencies. The information compiled in this response framework can be a model for other public health agencies to adopt when expanding the scope of their wastewater monitoring systems.

Current status of diagnostic assays for emerging zoonotic viruses: Nipah and Hendra.

INTRODUCTION: Nipah and Hendra viruses belong to the Paramyxoviridae family, which pose a significant threat to human health, with sporadic outbreaks causing severe morbidity and mortality. Early symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, and headache, which offer little in terms of differential diagnosis. There are no specific therapeutics and vaccines for these viruses. AREAS COVERED: This review comprehensively covers a spectrum of diagnostic techniques for Nipah and Hendra virus infections, discussed in conjunction with appropriate type of samples during the progression of infection. Serological assays, reverse transcriptase Real-Time PCR assays, and isothermal amplification assays are discussed in detail, along with a listing of few commercially available detection kits. Patents protecting inventions in Nipah and Hendra virus detection are also covered. EXPERT OPINION: Despite several outbreaks of Nipah and Hendra infections in the past decade, in-depth research into their pathogenesis, Point-of-Care diagnostics, specific therapies, and human vaccines is lacking. A prompt and accurate diagnosis is pivotal for efficient outbreak management, patient treatment, and the adoption of preventative measures. The emergence of rapid point-of-care tests holds promise in enhancing diagnostic capabilities in real-world settings. The patent landscape emphasizes the importance of innovation and collaboration within the legal and business realms.

Spatial examination of social and environmental drivers of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) across Kenya.

Climate and agricultural land-use change has increased the likelihood of infectious disease emergence and transmissions, but these drivers are often examined separately as combined effects are ignored. Further, seldom are the influence of climate and agricultural land use on emerging infectious diseases examined in a spatially explicit way at regional scales. Our objective in this study was to spatially examine the climate, agriculture, and socio-demographic factors related to agro-pastoralism, and especially the combined effects of these variables that can influence the prevalence of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in dromedary camels across northern Kenya. Our research questions focused on: (1) How MERS-CoV in dromedary camels has varied across geographic regions of northern Kenya, and (2) what climate, agriculture, and socio-demographic factors of agro-pastoralism were spatially related to the geographic variation of MERS-CoV cases in dromedary camels. To answer our questions, we analyzed the spatial distribution of historical cases based on serological evidence of MERS-CoV at the county level and applied spatial statistical analysis to examine the spatial relationships of the MERS-CoV cases between 2016 and 2018 to climate, agriculture, and socio-demographic factors of agro-pastoralism. Regional differences in MERS-CoV cases were spatially correlated with both social and environmental factors, and particularly ethno-religious camel practices, which highlight the complexity in the distribution of MERS-CoV in dromedary camels across Kenya.

Zoonotic spillover and extreme weather events drive the global outbreaks of airborne viral emerging infectious diseases.

Outbreaks of airborne viral emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) cause an increasing burden on global public health, particularly with a backdrop of intensified climate change. However, infection sources and drivers for outbreaks of airborne viral EIDs remain unknown. Here, we aim to explore the driving mechanisms of outbreaks based on the one health perspective. Outbreak information for 20 types of airborne viral EIDs was collected from the Global Infectious Disease and Epidemiology Network database and a systematic literature review. Four statistically significant and high-risk spatiotemporal clusters for airborne viral EID outbreaks were identified globally using multivariate scan statistic tests. There were 112 outbreaks with clear infection sources, and zoonotic spillover was the most common source (95.54%, 107/112). Since 1970, the majority of outbreaks occurred in healthcare facilities (24.82%), followed by schools (17.93%) and animal-related settings (15.93%). Significant associations were detected between the number of earthquakes, storms, duration of floods, and airborne viral EIDs' outbreaks using a case-crossover study design and multivariable conditional logistic regression. These findings implied that zoonotic spillover and extreme weather events are driving global outbreaks of airborne viral EIDs, and targeted prevention and control measures should be made to reduce the airborne viral EIDs burden.

Thoughts on and Proposal for the Education, Training, and Recruitment of Infectious Disease Specialists.

The global pandemic of COVID-19 has underscored the significance of establishing and sustaining a practical and efficient infection control system for the benefit and welfare of society. Infectious disease (ID) specialists are expected to take on leadership roles in enhancing organizational infrastructures for infection prevention and control (IPC) at the hospital, community, and national levels. However, due to an absolute shortage and an uneven distribution, many core hospitals currently lack the ID specialists. Given the escalating global risk of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases as well as antimicrobial resistance pathogens, the education and training of ID specialists constitutes an imperative concern. As demonstrated by historical changes in the healthcare reimbursement system, the establishment and enhancement of IPC measures is pivotal to ensuring medical safety. The existing structure of academic society-driven certification and training initiatives for ID specialists, contingent upon the discretionary decisions of individual physicians, possesses both quantitative and qualitative shortcomings. In this article, I first address the present situations and challenges related to ID specialists and then introduce my idea of securing ID specialists based on the new concepts and platforms; (i) ID Specialists as National Credentials, (ii) Establishment of the Department of Infectious Diseases in Medical and Graduate Schools, (iii) Endowed ID Educative Courses Funded by Local Government and Pharmaceutical Companies, and (iv) Recruitment of Young Physicians Engaged in Healthcare Services in Remote Areas. As clarified by the COVID-19 pandemic, ID specialists play a crucial role in safeguarding public health. Hopefully, this article will advance the discussion and organizational reform for the education and training of ID specialists.

The Role of Environmental Factors in Lyme Disease Transmission in the European Union: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Lyme disease (LD) is an emergent vector-borne disease caused by Borrelia spp. and transmitted through infected ticks, mainly Ixodes spp. Our objective was to determine meteorological and environmental factors associated with LD transmission in Europe and the effect of climate change on LD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was performed. We selected studies on LD transmission in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) published between 2000 and 2022. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database. RESULTS: We included 81 studies. The impact of environmental, meteorological or climate change factors on tick vectors was studied in 65 papers (80%), and the impact on human LD cases was studied in 16 papers (19%), whereas animal hosts were only addressed in one study (1%). A significant positive relationship was observed between temperature and precipitation and the epidemiology of LD, although contrasting results were found among studies. Other positive factors were humidity and the expansion of anthropized habitats. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiology of LD seems to be related to climatic factors that are changing globally due to ongoing climate change. Unfortunately, the complete zoonotic cycle was not systematically analyzed. It is important to adopt a One Health approach to understand LD epidemiology.

Seroprevalence of West Nile Virus in Tampa Bay Florida Patients Admitted to Hospital during 2020-2021 for Respiratory Symptoms.

West Nile virus (WNV) is an arbovirus spread primarily by Culex mosquitoes, with humans being a dead-end host. WNV was introduced to Florida in 2001, with 467 confirmed cases since. It is estimated that 80 percent of cases are asymptomatic, with mild cases presenting as a non-specific flu-like illness. Currently, detection of WNV in humans occurs primarily in healthcare settings via RT-PCR or CSF IgM when patients present with severe manifestations of disease including fever, meningitis, encephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis. Given the short window of detectable viremia and requirement for CSF sampling, most WNV infections never receive an official diagnosis. This study utilized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect WNV IgG antibodies in 250 patient serum and plasma samples collected at Tampa General Hospital during 2020 and 2021. Plaque reduction neutralization tests were used to confirm ELISA results. Out of the 250 patients included in this study, 18.8% of them were IgG positive, consistent with previous WNV exposure. There was no relationship between WNV exposure and age or sex.

Biological Characteristics and Pathogenesis of Monkeypox Virus: An Overview.

Although the smallpox virus has been eradicated worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about the virus's potential to propagate globally. The WHO labeled monkeypox a world public health emergency in July 2022, requiring urgent prevention and treatment. The monkeypox virus is a part of the Poxviridae family, Orthopoxvirus genus, and is accountable for smallpox, which has killed over a million people in the past. Natural hosts of the virus include squirrels, Gambian rodents, chimpanzees, and other monkeys. The monkeypox virus has transmitted to humans through primary vectors (various animal species) and secondary vectors, including direct touch with lesions, breathing particles from body fluids, and infected bedding. The viral particles are ovoid or brick-shaped, 200-250 nm in diameter, contain a single double-stranded DNA molecule, and reproduce only in the cytoplasm of infected cells. Monkeypox causes fever, cold, muscle pains, headache, fatigue, and backache. The phylogenetic investigation distinguished between two genetic clades of monkeypox: the more pathogenic Congo Basin clade and the West Africa clade. In recent years, the geographical spread of the human monkeypox virus has accelerated despite a paucity of information regarding the disease's emergence, ecology, and epidemiology. Using lesion samples and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the monkeypox virus was diagnosed. In the USA, the improved Ankara vaccine can now be used to protect people who are at a higher risk of getting monkeypox. Antivirals that we have now work well against smallpox and may stop the spread of monkeypox, but there is no particular therapy for monkeypox.