DOI: https://doi.org/10.47648/jswmc2025v15-01-9
Afroze T, Salam MU, Sharmin R, Ahmed S, Chowdhury NB, Rahman S , Ahmad MM
Mpox was once a zoonotic viral disease confined to a few countries in Central and West Africa. Its primary
reservoir animals included rodents and nonhuman primates inhabiting the tropical rainforests of the region.
The disease began to flourish in humans primarily after the 1980s, when smallpox vaccination was
discontinued. This vaccine provided 85% cross-protection against mpox, limiting its spread in earlier
decades. Over time, the mpox virus has undergone mutational evolution, enhancing its adaptability to
human hosts and establishing itself as a globally infectious human virus. Following the challenges posed by
the COVID-19 pandemic, mpox now looms as a potential new global health threat. It is crucial to raise
awareness and implement rigorous precautionary measures to prevent its further spread. This requires a
thorough understanding of the virology, evolution, and current disease patterns of mpox.