In August 2024, the WHO declared Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) a global health emergency due to rising Clade I Mpox cases in Africa and Sweden, highlighting the urgency for coordinated global efforts to monitor and mitigate the spread of the virus. Current vaccines and the need for continued research The Mpox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, within the Poxviridae family, and shares a close relationship with the variola virus, which causes smallpox. The primary vaccine used to prevent Mpox is JYNNEOS, which is a two-dose vaccine developed to protect against both Mpox and smallpox.
However, the emergence of more virulent strains underscores the need for ongoing research to ensure that existing vaccines remain effective. Continued research is crucial not only for vaccine efficacy but also for understanding the evolving pathogenicity and transmission dynamics of the Mpox virus. The virus's ability to spread in previously low-risk populations, including children, and its increasing virulence demand the development of new therapeutic strategies and the refinement of existing vaccines.
Understanding Mpox virus Mpox virus is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus existing in two forms: the intracellular mature virion (MV) and the extracellular enveloped virion (EV). MPXV enters host cells through attachment and fusion, with MVs typically released upon cell lysis and EVs exiting cells via exocytosis. Key viral proteins, homologous to those of the vaccinia virus (VACV), .