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

Abstract

The eradication of smallpox in 1980 and the subsequent discontinuation of smallpox vaccination have resulted in a decline in immunity against orthopoxviruses. As a result, Monkeypox (Mpox) has reappeared as a significant virus with implications for public health. This article aims to determine some of the factors responsible for the re-emergence of Mpox and its implications for global health. A thorough literature search for this present article was conducted through a search of databases and journals, including the WHO and CDC websites, using keywords such as “Monkeypox”, “Re-emergence”, “Prevalence”, “Risk factors”, “Implications” and “Global Health” to find articles published from 2003 to 2023. We found that Mpox recently occurred in several countries in America, Europe, and Asia, including the United States of America (USA), Brazil, Spain, Colombia, Mexico, the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, and Pakistan, between 2022 and 2023. 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). Possible factors implicated in the re-emergence of MPOX include; the expansion of the human population, increased same sexual intercourse, and poor epidemiological surveillance. etc. The re-emergence of Mpox in the world is a difficult issue that requires world leaders to take a diverse approach to control the disease. World leaders and scientists must pursue natural compounds with antiviral properties. Hopefully, natural products will give alternate therapy alternatives for preventing infection transmission between humans and limiting virus proliferation in host organisms.