Wickramasinghe Madushani, Weerasekera Manjula, Perera Nilanka
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Kuliyapitiya, Sri Lanka.
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
Clin Pathol. 2024 Nov 26;17:2632010X241300679. doi: 10.1177/2632010X241300679. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.
Mpox (human mpox) is an opportunistic viral zoonosis that bears a strong resemblance to smallpox. The virus is divided into 2 distinct clades, clade I and clade II, which were originally confined to the moist forest regions of Africa. However, due to air travel and the exotic pet trade, these clades have spread globally. As immunity from smallpox vaccination declined, Mpox emerged as the most significant viral infection affecting humans within the Orthopoxvirus genus. While sporadic cases occurred worldwide, the largest Mpox outbreak outside Africa took place in 2022, prompting the WHO to declare a global public health emergency. Asia plays a pivotal role in both hosting and contributing to the spread of Mpox, driven by socio-economic factors such as high population density, widespread illegal wildlife trade, and a continuous rise in air travel. The increasing number of Mpox cases in Asia poses a significant challenge to healthcare systems, especially during times of global economic crisis. Strengthening diagnostic capabilities and infrastructure, while sustainably utilizing available resources to target high-risk populations, will be essential in addressing the Mpox threat in the region.
猴痘（人猴痘）是一种机会性病毒性人畜共患病，与天花极为相似。该病毒分为两个不同的进化枝，进化枝I和进化枝II，最初局限于非洲的潮湿森林地区。然而，由于航空旅行和外来宠物贸易，这些进化枝已在全球传播。随着天花疫苗接种产生的免疫力下降，猴痘成为正痘病毒属中影响人类的最主要病毒感染。虽然全球都有散发病例，但非洲以外最大规模的猴痘疫情发生在2022年，促使世界卫生组织宣布全球突发公共卫生事件。受高人口密度、广泛的非法野生动物贸易以及航空旅行持续增加等社会经济因素推动，亚洲在猴痘传播方面既起到了宿主作用，也对其传播起到了推动作用。亚洲猴痘病例数量的增加给医疗系统带来了重大挑战，尤其是在全球经济危机时期。加强诊断能力和基础设施建设，同时可持续地利用现有资源以针对高危人群，对于应对该地区的猴痘威胁至关重要。
