Vaxxing to elimination: smallpox vaccines as tools to fight mpox

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Boghuma Titanji, Emory University; Vincent Marconi, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-01-17
• Publisher: American Society for Clinical Investigation
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2023 Titanji1 et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/JCI167632
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of Clinical Investigation
• Volume: 133
• Issue: 2
• Keywords: Smallpox Vaccine; Vaccination; Monkeypox; Humans
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Immunology; Biology, Virology

Abstract

An outbreak of monkeypox (mpox) virus emerged on the global landscape in May 2022 and rapidly spread to several nonendemic countries in every WHO health region. To date, over 80,000 cases have been reported, mostly concentrated in North America, Brazil, and Western Europe (1). After an initial period of relatively rapid spread, which earned the outbreak the designation of a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), case numbers have steadily declined, especially in high-income countries. This decline in new cases can be attributed to rapid rollout of vaccines, growing herd immunity built by the rapid spread of infection in individuals considered at highest risk, and behavior modification. There has also likely been a herd effect, with nonvaccinated individuals benefiting from the interruption of transmission among vaccinated individuals.