The epidemic characteristics and control strategies of mpox(monkeypox)

CAO Yongping; GUO Jianbin; JIA Desheng; LI Wenhao; HAN Zhaojiu; ZHU Jin

doi:10.19821/j.1671-2781.2024.03.002

Abstract：Mpox(monkeypox)is a zoonotic disease caused by mpox virus,traditionally prevalent in tropical rainforest regions of central and western Africa.With the first confirmed case of mpox reported in the UK in May 2022,the crisis of the global outbreak from 2022 to 2023 was triggered.This outbreak was the largest and most widely spread mpox epidemic in the world since the discovery and identification of the mpox virus in 1958,mainly spreading in non-traditional epidemic countries.WHO had declared the mpox outbreak as an international public health emergency of concern.According to a WHO reports,from January 2022 to February 2024,117 countries reported 94707 confirmed cases and 662 possible cases,with 181 deaths.China reported a total of 2 031 confirmed cases of mpox,including 1 611 in Chinese mainland,83 in Hong Kong,335 in Taiwan region,2 in Macau,with 1 death in Taiwan region.The biggest feature of this outbreak is that Americas and Europe in non-traditional epidemic areas accounted for 93.10％of cases.In the world,96.4％of the reported cases were male,with males aged 18-44 accounting for 79.4％of the cases.Male homosexuals account for 85.4％.Although the global outbreak has largely subsided,it may not be possible to return to previous level in non-traditional epidemic areas.The uncertainty of the resurgence of the epidemic and the danger of long-distance transmission still exist,and the prevention and control situation remains severe.This paper described the etiology,clinical and epidemiological characteristics of mpox and analyzes the epidemic situation and characteristics of mpox worldwide and in China putting forward the strategies for prevention and control of mpox in China.