Epidemiological Trends of Human Monkeypox Cases in Northern, Southern, Western, and Eastern Regions in Europe: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background. The growing amount of monkeypox cases in non-endemic regions raises concerns in societies as a potential pandemic. This study highlights the prevalence and epidemiological trends of a human monkeypox outbreak in various regions in Europe. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The data about the monkeypox outbreak in European countries were recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. The period prevalence-based data were recorded from Jan 1, 2022, to July 7, 2022, and analyzed, and epidemiological trends were established in different European regions and countries. Results. In Europe, the human monkeypox rapidly spread in all the four subregions and involved 30 European countries, infecting 6077 people. The rising number of monkeypox cases is identified in Western Europe, 2599 (42.76%); Southern Europe, 1932 (31.79%); Northern Europe, 1487 (24.46%); and Eastern Europe, 59 (0.97%). In Western Europe, significant cases are found in Germany (1304), France (604), the Netherlands (352), Belgium (168), and Switzerland (131). In Northern Europe, it is found in the United Kingdom (1351), Ireland (44), Sweden (28), and Denmark (26); in Southern Europe, it is found in Spain (1256), Portugal (415), and Italy (233). However, a smaller number of cases are found in Eastern European states, Hungary (22), Poland (13), and Romania (12). The results further revealed that the number of monkeypox cases per million people in Northern Europe was 14.40%; Southern Europe, 13.49%; Western Europe, 13.26%; and Eastern Europe, 0.70%. The highest monkeypox cases per million population are found in Portugal, 40.70; Gibraltar, 29.68; Spain, 26.86; the United Kingdom, 19.90; Malta, 18.12; the Netherlands, 20.54; Germany, 15.56; Switzerland, 15.14; Belgium, 14.50; France, 9.27; and Ireland, 8.90. Conclusions. In a short period, the monkeypox cases swiftly spread in 30 non-endemic European countries and involved all four European regions. The healthcare authorities must take timely decisions to control the outbreak of human monkeypox disease, as the world cannot afford the global burden of human monkeypox outbreak as another potential pandemic.

Factors responsible for the re-emergence of Monkeypox and implications for global health

“…The study revealed the swift dissemination of human Mpox throughout the four subregions, affecting a total of 30 European states and impacting 6077 persons. The rise in Mpox cases was also seen, with incidences documented in Western Europe (2599 cases, accounting for 42.76% of the total), Southern Europe (1932 cases, representing 31.79% of the total), Northern Europe (1487 cases, comprising 24.46% of the total), and Eastern Europe (59 cases, making up 0.97% of the total 18 . Moreover, it has been reported that there has been an increasing incidence of Mpox cases in several European nations starting from May 2022 18 .…”

“…The rise in Mpox cases was also seen, with incidences documented in Western Europe (2599 cases, accounting for 42.76% of the total), Southern Europe (1932 cases, representing 31.79% of the total), Northern Europe (1487 cases, comprising 24.46% of the total), and Eastern Europe (59 cases, making up 0.97% of the total 18 . Moreover, it has been reported that there has been an increasing incidence of Mpox cases in several European nations starting from May 2022 18 . Significantly, Western European countries such as Switzerland (131), Germany (1304), Belgium (168), France (604), Austria (31), and the Netherlands (352) have reported notable instances of MPOX cases.…”

“…Several noteworthy examples were recorded in Northern Europe, including Denmark (26), the United Kingdom (1351), Sweden (28), Norway (19), and Ireland (44). In a similar vein, Southern Europe experienced incidents in Spain (1256), Italy (233), and Portugal (415), whereas Eastern European countries, such as Hungary (22), Romania (12), and Poland (13), reported relatively fewer cases [18] .…”

“…From 1 January 2022 to 7 July 2022, Meo et al [18] conducted a cross-sectional analysis in Europe. The study revealed the swift dissemination of human Mpox throughout the four subregions, affecting a total of 30 European states and impacting 6077 persons.…”

Human Monkeypox—A Global Public Health Emergency

“…A few months ago, the WHO expressed serious concern regarding the epidemiological situation in Europe, classifying it to be at high risk due to the spreading of the monkeypox in 30 European countries, where it infected more than 6000 subjects [ 100 ]. From January to October 2022, the global situations of monkeypox cases and deaths in non-endemic countries is well described in Table 2 [ 101 ].…”