Monkeypox: Current trends and therapeutic challenges

Abstract

Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that mostly affects tropical rainforest regions of Central and West Africa, with infrequent exportations to other parts of the world. The cause of monkeypox is the monkeypox virus, a species of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. Monkeypox often has symptoms that last between 2 and 4 weeks and is a self-limiting condition. Severe cases could exist. Monkeypox can be spread to humans by close contact with infected animals or people, as well as through coming into contact with contaminated materials. By coming into intimate contact with lesions, bodily fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated things like bedding, the monkeypox virus can be transferred from one person to another. The smallpox immunizations used in the smallpox eradication campaign also provided immunity to that illness. One of the more recent vaccinations, which is now accessible, is approved for the protection of monkeypox. Hexadecyloxypropyl-cidofovir (CDV) has superior oral bioavailability, less toxicity, and improved cellular penetration compared to CDV, administered intravenously. The European Medicines Agency authorized tecovirimat, an antiviral medicine developed to treat smallpox, to treat monkeypox in 2022 on the basis of data from both animal and human testing. It is still not readily accessible.