Monkeypox Virus Infection in Humans across 16 Countries — April–June 2022

Bibliographic Data

ID23371636
AuthorsJohn P Thornhill (From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), John Thornhill (0000-0002-2174-9446, Barts Health NHS Trust), Sapha Barkati (0000-0002-9388-855X, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Sharon Walmsley (0000-0002-3959-5692, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Juergen Rockstroh (From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Andrea Antinori (0000-0003-2121-4684, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Luke B Harrison (0000-0003-3829-625X, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Romain Palich (0000-0003-0047-0101, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Achyuta Nori (From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Iain Reeves (From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Maximillian S Habibi (0000-0001-9883-2603, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Vanessa Apea (0000-0002-0533-8292, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Christoph Boesecke (0000-0003-0686-6537, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Linos Vandekerckhove (0000-0002-8600-1631, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Michal Yakubovsky (0000-0002-1587-7310, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Elena Sendagorta (From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), José Luis Blanco (0000-0003-2010-2744, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), Eric Florence (0000-0002-7004-9120, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Davide Moschese (0000-0001-5901-6742, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Fernando Maltêz (0000-0001-5828-7727, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), Fernando M Maltez (From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Abraham Goorhuis (0000-0001-7423-6217, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Valerie Pourcher (0000-0001-7378-2179, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Pascal Migaud (0000-0002-5659-9345, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Sebastian Noe (0000-0001-6863-3275, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Claire Pintado (From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Fabrizio Maggi (0000-0001-7489-5271, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Ann-Brit E Hansen (From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Ann‐Brit Eg Hansen (0000-0003-4228-3822, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust), Christian Hoffmann (0000-0002-9291-2570, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Jezer I Lezama (From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Cristina Mussini (From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Annamaria Cattelan (0000-0003-4678-9070, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Keletso Makofane (0000-0001-8493-4238, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Darrell H S Tan (0000-0002-3069-2875, St. Michael's Hospital), Darrell Tan (From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Silvia Nozza (0000-0002-2673-2731, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Johannes Nemeth (0000-0003-0683-456X, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Marina B Klein (0000-0002-3063-8430, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In), Chloe Orkin (0000-0001-6168-6745, From the Blizard Institute and the SHARE Collaborative, Queen Mary University of London, and the Department of Infection and Immunity, Barts Health NHS Trust (J.P.T., V.A., C.M.O.), the Department of Genitourinary Medicine and Infectious Disease, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust (A.N.), the Department of Sexual Health, Homerton University Hospital (I.R.), and the Clinical Infection Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (M.S.H.) — all in London; the Department of Medicine, Division of In)
Year2022
Volume387
Issue8
Pages679-691
Publication date2022-08-25
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueNew England Journal of Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0028-4793 • E-ISSN: 1533-4406
PublisherMassachusetts Medical Society (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1056/nejmoa2207323
PMID35866746
OpenAlexW4286383196
LanguageEN
Citations received63
References cited12

BACKGROUND: Before April 2022, monkeypox virus infection in humans was seldom reported outside African regions where it is endemic. Currently, cases are occurring worldwide. Transmission, risk factors, clinical presentation, and outcomes of infection are poorly defined. METHODS: We formed an international collaborative group of clinicians who contributed to an international case series to describe the presentation, clinical course, and outcomes of polymerase-chain-reaction-confirmed monkeypox virus infections. RESULTS: We report 528 infections diagnosed between April 27 and June 24, 2022, at 43 sites in 16 countries. Overall, 98% of the persons with infection were gay or bisexual men, 75% were White, and 41% had human immunodeficiency virus infection; the median age was 38 years. Transmission was suspected to have occurred through sexual activity in 95% of the persons with infection. In this case series, 95% of the persons presented with a rash (with 64% having ≤10 lesions), 73% had anogenital lesions, and 41% had mucosal lesions (with 54 having a single genital lesion). Common systemic features preceding the rash included fever (62%), lethargy (41%), myalgia (31%), and headache (27%); lymphadenopathy was also common (reported in 56%). Concomitant sexually transmitted infections were reported in 109 of 377 persons (29%) who were tested. Among the 23 persons with a clear exposure history, the median incubation period was 7 days (range, 3 to 20). Monkeypox virus DNA was detected in 29 of the 32 persons in whom seminal fluid was analyzed. Antiviral treatment was given to 5% of the persons overall, and 70 (13%) were hospitalized; the reasons for hospitalization were pain management, mostly for severe anorectal pain (21 persons); soft-tissue superinfection (18); pharyngitis limiting oral intake (5); eye lesions (2); acute kidney injury (2); myocarditis (2); and infection-control purposes (13). No deaths were reported. CONCLUSIONS: In this case series, monkeypox manifested with a variety of dermatologic and systemic clinical findings. The simultaneous identification of cases outside areas where monkeypox has traditionally been endemic highlights the need for rapid identification and diagnosis of cases to contain further community spread.

Biology · Geography · Monkeypox · Vaccinia · Virus · Cervical Cancer and HPV Research · Genetics · Poxvirus research and outbreaks · Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research · Virology