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Review
. 2022 Aug 25;14(9):1874.
doi: 10.3390/v14091874.

Monkeypox Goes North: Ongoing Worldwide Monkeypox Infections in Humans

Barbara S Schnierle  1
Affiliations
Review

Monkeypox Goes North: Ongoing Worldwide Monkeypox Infections in Humans

Barbara S Schnierle. Viruses. .

Abstract

In the late 1970s, global vaccination programs resulted in the eradication of smallpox. The Monkeypox virus (MPXV), which is closely related to the smallpox-inducing variola virus, was previously endemic only in Sub-Saharan Africa but is currently spreading worldwide. Only older people who have been vaccinated against smallpox are expected to be sufficiently protected against poxviruses. Here I will summarize current knowledge about the virus, the disease caused by MPXV infections, and strategies to limit its spread.

Keywords: 2022 outbreak; monkeypox; orthopox; vaccine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic illustration of clinical signs of a MPXV infection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.