The Emergence of Mpox: Epidemiology and Current Therapeutic Options

Abstract

The world recently witnessed the emergence of new epidemic outbreaks like COVID-19 and mpox. The 2022 outbreak of mpox amid COVID-19 presents an intricate situation and requires strategies to combat the status quo. Some of the challenges to controlling an epidemic include present knowledge of the disease, available treatment options, appropriate health infrastructures facilities, current scientific methods, operations concepts, availability of technical staff, financial funds, and lastly international policies to control an epidemic state. These insufficiencies often hinder the control of disease spread and jeopardize the health of countless people. Also, disease outbreaks often put a huge burden on the developing economies. These countries are the worst affected and are immensely dependent on assistance provided from the larger economies to control such outbreaks. The first case of mpox was reported in the 1970s and several outbreaks were detected thereafter in the endemic areas eventually leading to the recent outbreak. Approximately, more than 80,000 individuals were infected, and 110 countries were affected by this outbreak. Yet, no definite vaccines and drugs are available to date. The lack of human clinical trials affected thousands of individuals in availing definite disease management. This paper focuses on the epidemiology of mpox, scientific concepts, and treatment options including future treatment modalities for mpox.

Keywords: DNA virus infections; Mpox; Orthopoxvirus; Public health emergency.

Fig. 1

Countries reporting mpox historically vs countries reporting an mpox outbreak as recorded in an early March 2023 report by CDC¹⁹

Fig. 2

Mpox number of cases and deaths recorded in early March 2023 across the continent as per the report by CDC¹⁹

Fig. 3

Common features reported in mpox infection⁴

Fig. 4

A Symptoms and B mechanism of action of mpox antiviral therapy: cidofovir, brincidofovir, vaccinia immune globulin, and tecovirimat [50]

Fig. 5

Global spread of mpox in 2023 outbreak¹⁹

Fig. 6

Different treatment modalities in mpox