Health and Medicine

The changing epidemiology of human monkeypox—A potential threat? A systematic review

Eveline M. Bunge, Bernard Hoet , Liddy Chen, Florian Lienert, Heinz Weidenthaler, Lorraine R. Baer, Robert Steffen
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Summary

Monkeypox, a zoonotic disease caused by an orthopoxvirus, results in a smallpox-like disease in humans. Since monkeypox in humans was initially diagnosed in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), it has spread to other regions of Africa (primarily West and Central), and cases outside Africa have emerged in recent years. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature on how monkeypox epidemiology has evolved, with particular emphasis on the number of confirmed, probable, and/or possible cases, age at presentation, mortality, and geographical spread. The review is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020208269). We identified 48 peer-reviewed articles and 18 grey literature sources for data extraction. The number of human monkeypox cases has been on the rise since the 1970s, with the most dramatic increases occurring in the DRC. The median age at presentation has increased from 4 (1970s) to 21 years (2010–2019). There was an overall case fatality rate of 8.7%, with a significant difference between clades—Central African 10.6% (95% CI: 8.4%– 13.3%) vs. West African 3.6% (95% CI: 1.7%– 6.8%). Since 2003, import- and travel-related spread outside of Africa has occasionally resulted in outbreaks. Interactions/activities with infected animals or individuals are risk behaviors associated with acquiring monkeypox. Our review shows an escalation of monkeypox cases, especially in the highly endemic DRC, a spread to other countries, and a growing median age from young children to young adults. These findings may be related to the cessation of smallpox vaccination, which provided some cross-protection against monkeypox, leading to increased human-to-human transmission. The appearance of outbreaks beyond Africa highlights the global relevance of the disease. Increased surveillance and detection of monkeypox cases are essential tools for understanding the continuously changing epidemiology of this resurging disease.

Key Points

  • 1Monkeypox cases have significantly risen since the 1970s, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • 2The median age of presentation has increased from four years in the 1970s to twenty-one years in the 2010s
  • 3The case fatality rate differs by clade, with Central African cases showing higher mortality
  • 4The cessation of smallpox vaccinations has likely contributed to increased human-to-human transmission
  • 5Increased detection and surveillance are essential for addressing the global relevance of monkeypox.

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