Epidemiological factors of monkeypox transmission

Abstract

Introduction: With the first case reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Monkeypox virus, belonging to the Poxviridae family, affected, for many years, mainly the countries of West and Central Africa, with rare and self-limited outbreaks outside endemic areas. The increase in the number of cases registered in countries in Europe, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Pacific in recent years has alerted the scientific community and culminated in the production of several studies on monkeypox. Objective: This study aimed to understand the risk factors and the epidemiological profile of the etiological agent. Methods: A literature review was performed using Public Medline, Scopus and Web of Science databases, adopting the descriptors “Monkeypox” and “Epidemiology”. Results: 366 articles related to the theme were found, of which, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 19 studies were selected to integrate this review. After an incubation period of approximately 2 weeks, the interruption of skin and mucosal integrity caused by the Monkeypox virus is often the first pathological manifestation in most patients, starting in a macular pattern and progressing to the formation of crusts. Other studies observed that systemic involvement was the majority as the first manifestation of the disease among their participants, especially those who performed receptive anal sex. Furthermore, men who have sex with other men, people who have sex with individuals affected by monkeypox or with people with risk factors for the development of STIs, were more likely to be infected by the Monkeypox virus, even though information about the infectivity of semen and vaginal secretions is insufficient. Conclusion: It is recommended to carefully examine any rashes in all patients, regardless of sex, gender or age.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/alookdevelopv1-151