Task force needed to sustainably monitor Monkeypox, experts advise

Trace disease to W’Africa, WHO consults on ailment

A MULTI-NATIONAL scientific task force is needed to sustainably monitor Monkeypox, according to researchers. They also traced origin of the disease to West Africa. Zoonotic viruses are those that transmit from animals to humans.

This is even as the World Health Organisation (WHO) convened a global research consultation on knowledge gaps and research priorities for the ailment, following recent outbreaks in both endemic and non-endemic nations.

In a recent study published by bioRxiv pre-print server, examiners analysed two genomic sequences of the virus from Belgium and Portugal, termed ITM001 and PT0001.

The survey showed that the May 2022 Monkeypox outbreak most likely originated from the West African clade of the virus. Moreover, the sequences were 99 per cent identical to the ailment’s sequences derived from cases between 1971 and 2017.

In May 2022, there were around 100 cases of Monkeypox-induced infections in 12 countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, Portugal and Spain. In addition, the world is facing a pandemic due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Although the Monkeypox cases did not claim lives or surge to high numbers as SARS-CoV-2, yet, it is crucial to strictly monitor the genomic features and etiology of the bug to stave imminent potential threats.

Phylogenetic analysis showed that the PT0001 and ITM001 sequences from Portugal and Belgium strike semblance of the West African clade. While Cowpox genomes constituted a different genetic group, the Variola virus genome was highly similar to the Monkeypox virus.

It possessed over 95 per cent Deoxy ribonucleic Acid (DNA)/genetic material identity with both clades and the analysed Cowpox and Variola virus genome sequences.

The researchers concluded: “Thankfully, the recent Monkeypox outbreak did not result in any casualty. Moreover, the authors did not find any genetic divergence in the recently identified and historic Monkeypox virus strains,” pointing out that “this disease is unlikely to attain pandemic status. Nevertheless, continuous and careful surveillance of the evolution of Monkeypox H3 proteins is of paramount importance to monitor the virus evolution during this outbreak, and in the future, to develop effective vaccines against this disease.”

Also, a new study published in Veterinary Quarterly has identified the main host, intermediate hosts, as well as other animal reservoirs for both SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and the Monkeypox viruses.

According to the study, scientific monitoring of zoonoses is also required to avoid another pandemic originating from the Asian wet markets. The researchers said multi-national Asia could assist in investigating origin and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and avert future outbreaks.