Monkeypox: genetic, clinical, molecular, diagnostic, and therapeutic perspectives

Abstract

Monkeypox is a DNA virus that belongs to the orthopox virus family with two distinct clades known as West African and Congo Basin. This virus was initially discovered in crab-eating Macaques in 1958 and in 1970s it spread among people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Initially, there were several outbreaks of the disease reported in Africa and other regions of the world. The simultaneous spread in 19 countries in 2022 prompted severe worries. The monkeypox virus is closely related to smallpox, which was responsible for the highest fatality rate in human history, and a preconceived thought combined with fear is enough to make us shiver. Furthermore, the virus is often mistaken for a sexually transmitted infection or the Varicella zoster virus. The emergence of outbreaks outside of Africa is indicative of the disease’s global footprint. Increased detection and monitoring of monkey pox cases as well as understanding the disease’s ever-changing epidemiology is critical. Furthermore, intensive research is yet to identify the exact small mammal reservoir for monkeypox virus. Identifying the exact reservoir may aid in the identification of previously unknown high-risk activities for getting orthopoxvirus infections. Finally, a better understanding of the potential/suspected monkeypox viral transmission pathways is required so that public health officials can develop and implement interventions to lower the risk of human infection. This review focuses on the genetic, clinical, molecular, diagnostic, and therapeutic perspectives of monkeypox.