
BMC Infectious Diseases is calling for submissions to our Collection on Monkeypox.
This Collection aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on the etiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of monkeypox.
Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the family Poxviridae. It is characterized by a febrile illness with a prodrome of headache, muscle aches, and fatigue, followed by the appearance of a rash that progresses to pustular lesions. The disease is generally self-limiting, but severe cases with complications can occur, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
Due to its potential to cause outbreaks and the lack of specific treatment and prevention options, Monkeypox has become a significant public health concern. Understanding the transmission dynamics of the virus, identifying the risk factors for human infection, developing diagnostic tools, and exploring potential therapies and vaccines are critical areas of research.
Continuing to advance our collective understanding of monkeypox is crucial for several reasons. The virus has the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality in affected individuals, particularly in areas with limited healthcare resources. As the virus can be transmitted from animals to humans, understanding the ecology of the virus and its animal hosts can help prevent future outbreaks. Importantly, as the monkeypox virus shares genetic similarities with other orthopoxviruses, such as smallpox, understanding the disease could aid in the development of broad-spectrum vaccines and therapeutics.
The scope of this Collection includes but is not limited to:
- The epidemiology and transmission dynamics of monkeypox
- The molecular biology and pathogenesis of monkeypox virus
- The clinical presentation and diagnosis of monkeypox
- The management and treatment of monkeypox
- The development of vaccines and immunotherapies against monkeypox
- The effectiveness of vaccines and immunotherapies against monkeypox
- The prevention and control of monkeypox outbreaks
- The diagnostic challenges in monkeypox virus detection
- The comparative genomics of monkeypox and other orthopoxviruses
Image credit: © Brian W.J. Mahy