Monkeypox Mysteries of the New Outbreak in Non-Endemic Areas

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in mid-2022 to be a public health emergency of international concern, following its spread around the world after circulating in Western and Central Africa. This new outbreak is concentrated in men who have sex with men (MSM). Moreover, beyond the epidemiological change, compared with endemic countries, differences in clinical features and many other aspects have also been detected. These and other characteristics are unusual and still unclear. Based on the available data, the authors try to help to clarify some of the current major gaps in monkeypox knowledge to strengthen the outbreak response.

Automated summary

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) has been declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to its spread and concentration among men who have sex with men (MSM). The differences in clinical features and other aspects compared to endemic countries are still unclear. The authors attempt to fill some of the major gaps in knowledge regarding monkeypox to strengthen the response to the outbreak.