Smallpox News and Research

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Smallpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the variola virus, a member of the Orthopox virus family. It is one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity, with a mortality rate as high as 30%. In 1967, the World Health Organization embarked upon an intensified vaccination campaign to eliminate smallpox, which culminated in the successful eradication of the disease globally by 1980.

By the mid-1980s, there were only two known repositories of variola virus: the Institute of Virus Preparations in Russia, and the US CDC. The events in the US in September and October 2001 highlighted the risk that the variola virus might be used as an agent of bioterrorism. Governments around the world are taking precautionary measures to be ready to deal with a potential smallpox outbreak.

Drugs with antiviral activity against monkeypox virus

In a recent study posted as an accepted manuscript in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, researchers from the University of Oklahoma described three drugs with antiviral activity against the monkeypox virus (MPXV).

2 Aug 2022

Symptoms of monkeypox differ from previous outbreaks

A new study describes the clinical characteristics of monkeypox infections during the current outbreak.

1 Aug 2022

Würzburg scientists are working on the development of new drugs to combat monkeypox

Poxviruses pose a threat to humanity that should be taken seriously, as the current outbreak of monkeypox shows.

1 Aug 2022

Survey: Nearly 1 in 5 Americans are concerned about contracting monkeypox

As Covid-19 cases surge across the United States dominated by a highly transmissible subvariant and worry about Covid persists, some in the public have begun to voice concern about the new health threat of monkeypox, according to a new Annenberg Public Policy Center national survey.

29 Jul 2022

Sixteen countries reported monkeypox virus infection in humans between April and June 2022

Researchers have analyzed the recent cases related to the monkeypox virus infection.

27 Jul 2022

How prepared are we for a widespread monkeypox outbreak?

In a new study, researchers summarized the epidemiology, etiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and prevention and treatment strategies for monkeypox (MPX) caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV).

25 Jul 2022

Is monkeypox a global public-health emergency?

A summary of available knowledge on the monkeypox virus including pathogenicity, risk to the human population, and strategies that can help limit its spread.

20 Jul 2022

What is the prevalence of orthopoxviruses across different populations?

In a new study, researchers assessed the prevalence of orthopoxviruses among the general populations of Bolivia, France, Laos, and Mali.

20 Jul 2022

Researchers describe viral shedding of monkeypox virus in patients to better understand the possible role of different bodily fluids in disease transmission

Researchers described the shedding of the monkeypox (MPX) virus (MPXV) in Barcelona city of Spain.

20 Jul 2022

CDC experts update on monkeypox in the United States

Scientists working with the CDC provide the latest information about monkeypox in the U.S.

19 Jul 2022

Fighting monkeypox, sexual health clinics are underfunded and ill-equipped

Clinics that treat sexually transmitted diseases — already struggling to contain an explosive increase in infections such as syphilis and gonorrhea — now find themselves on the front lines in the nation's fight to control the rapidly growing monkeypox outbreak.

19 Jul 2022

Aegis Sciences to commence testing for monkeypox using CDC's orthopoxvirus test

Starting today, Aegis Sciences will begin testing for monkeypox using CDC's orthopoxvirus test, which detects most non-smallpox related orthopoxviruses, including monkeypox virus.

18 Jul 2022

Pox viruses deliver proteins that directly interfere with the body's innate immune system

Pox viruses are able to get a head start on infecting a host by delivering a package of proteins that directly interferes with the body's innate immune system.

15 Jul 2022

Mayo Clinic Laboratories to commence testing for monkeypox using CDC's orthopoxvirus test

Starting today, Mayo Clinic Laboratories will begin testing for monkeypox using CDC's orthopoxvirus test, which detects most non-smallpox related orthopoxviruses, including monkeypox.

13 Jul 2022

What are the biological features, prevention and control strategies against monkeypox?

Researchers elucidated the epidemiology and clinical presentation, biological features, pathogenicity and prevention and control strategies for monkeypox virus (MPXV) infections.

13 Jul 2022

Clinical presentation of monkeypox infection in two Israeli males

Researchers described the symptomatology and clinical manifestations of monkeypox infections among two Israeli patients.

12 Jul 2022

Vaccine and testing delays for monkeypox echo failures in early covid response

Andy Stone is one of the lucky ones. The New York City resident saw a tweet from a local AIDS activist saying that monkeypox vaccines would be available that day at a clinic in Manhattan

8 Jul 2022

What is the monkeypox transmission risk in metropolitan areas?

A new study discusses the possible patterns of spread of monkeypox, and strategies to contain such transmission.

7 Jul 2022

Asymptomatic monkeypox infection detected from routine sexual health samples

A new study reports on the incidence of subclinical monkeypox infection among individuals attending a sexual health clinic in Belgium.

7 Jul 2022

Neuropsychiatric symptoms prevalent in over 50% of monkeypox infections according to new research

Scientists have recently conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the types and prevalence of neurological and psychiatric symptoms associated with monkeypox virus infection in humans.

7 Jul 2022