Monkeypox: Immune response, vaccination and preventive efforts

Abstract

Infectious threats to humans are continuously emerging. The 2022 worldwide monkeypox outbreak is the latest of these threats with the virus rapidly spreading to 106 countries by the end of September 2022. The burden of the ongoing monkeypox outbreak is manifested by 68,000 cumulative confirmed cases and 26 deaths. Although monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease, patients can suffer from extremely painful skin lesions and complications can occur with reported mortalities. The antigenic similarity between the smallpox virus (variola virus) and monkeypox virus can be utilized to prevent monkeypox using smallpox vaccines; treatment is also based on antivirals initially designed to treat smallpox. However, further studies are needed to fully decipher the immune response to monkeypox virus and the immune evasion mechanisms. In this review we provide an up-to-date discussion of the current state of knowledge regarding monkeypox virus with a special focus on innate immune response, immune evasion mechanisms and vaccination against the virus.

WITHDRAWN: Human monkeypox infection knowledge in the Philippines: An online cross-sectional survey

“…Mpox is treated with antivirals [ 6 ]. The currently approved medications (brincidofovir and tecovirimat) were initially licensed to treat smallpox [ [7] , [8] , [9] ]. Smallpox vaccination can prevent Mpox infection by up to 85% [ 3 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Knowledge, Attitude and Conspiracy Beliefs of Healthcare Workers in Lebanon towards Monkeypox

“…Although vaccines and treatments are available for MPOX management and prevention [ 16 , 17 ], the WHO highlighted the importance of effective public health control measures to halt the spread of MPXV [ 18 ]. This involves enhancing the capacity of healthcare workers (HCWs) to identify cases through implementing early diagnosis and providing systematic effective medical care [ 18 , 19 ].…”

Monkeypox Vaccine Acceptance among Ghanaians: A Call for Action

“…The general population, including healthcare workers (HCWs) at all levels, should implement appropriate prevention and control measures against MPOX [ 9 ]. The most effective method to manage and contain an outbreak is believed to be through the judicious use of vaccines and preventative measures preventing the spread of the infectious disease from human to human and limiting the zoonotic disease’s transmission [ 1 , 10 ]. According to the literature, smallpox vaccination covers approximately 85% protection against MPOXV infection via cross-protection as members of the same poxviridae family [ 11 , 12 ].…”