2022–2023 mpox outbreak by country and territory

Disease	Mpox
Pathogen strain
Source
Location	Worldwide
First outbreak	United Kingdom
First reported	May 2022
Index case
Dates
Date

The 2022–2023 mpox outbreak is a global outbreak of mpox, a viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The outbreak was first identified in the United Kingdom in May 2022 and has since spread to multiple countries and territories worldwide.

Background

Mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. It was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name "monkeypox." The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Transmission

The virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or with material contaminated with the virus. Human-to-human transmission occurs primarily through large respiratory droplets, but it can also occur through direct contact with body fluids or lesion material, and indirect contact with lesion material, such as through contaminated clothing or linens.

Symptoms

The incubation period of mpox is usually 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days. The infection can be divided into two periods:

• The invasion period (0–5 days) characterized by fever, intense headache, lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph nodes), back pain, myalgia (muscle aches), and an intense asthenia (lack of energy).
• The skin eruption period (within 1–3 days after the appearance of fever) where the various stages of the rash appear, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body.

Outbreak by Country and Territory

The outbreak has been reported in numerous countries and territories. Below is a summary of the outbreak in selected regions:

United Kingdom

The first cases of the outbreak were reported in the United Kingdom in May 2022. The initial cases were linked to travel from Nigeria, where the disease is endemic.

United States

The United States reported its first case in May 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been actively monitoring and responding to the outbreak.

Europe

Several European countries, including Spain, Portugal, and Germany, have reported cases. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has issued guidance on managing the outbreak.

Africa

In Africa, where the disease is endemic in some regions, countries such as Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have continued to report cases.

Response

The response to the outbreak has involved public health measures such as contact tracing, isolation of cases, and vaccination campaigns. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been coordinating international efforts to control the spread of the virus.

Prevention

Preventive measures include avoiding contact with animals that could harbor the virus, practicing good hand hygiene, and using personal protective equipment when caring for infected individuals. Vaccination with the smallpox vaccine has been shown to be effective in preventing mpox.

Also see

• Monkeypox
• Orthopoxvirus
• Poxviridae
• World Health Organization
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention