On 23 July 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. By 15 December, over 82\u2009500 confirmed cases of human monkeypox across 110 countries had been identified, with 98% of cases emerging in 103 non-endemic countries. Notably, most patients present without clear epidemiological links and non-specific clinical characteristics. We offer an overview of human monkeypox and of the assessment, diagnosis, and management of confirmed cases and at-risk patients based primarily on guidance from the WHO and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).<\/p>\n
What is monkeypox?<\/b><\/p>\n
The monkeypox virus is a zoonotic orthopoxvirus related to the variola virus that causes smallpox. Its main reservoirs are rodents, apes, and monkeys. It was first described in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The following 11 countries have historically reported cases of monkeypox (that is, considered endemic for monkeypox virus): Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, DRC, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. However, there are insufficient data to delineate the differences between endemic and non-endemic regions. Further, the mode of transmission, presentation, and management during the current outbreak is similar in all regions.<\/p>\n
Key management points<\/b><\/p>\n