It is likely that the monkey pox virus will come to kill/maim the human beings; there being no end to the disease in sight. There are 219 virus species that are known to be able to infect humans and monkeypox is one.
Extrapolation of the discovery curve suggests that there is still a substantial pool of undiscovered human virus species.
After corona virus, it is monkeypox virus; then, a few more are waiting in queue to attack the human beings. In 1980, it was declared that smallpox has been eradicated, but what has happened now? The pharmaceutical industries, hospitals and doctors may benefit with these new viruses.
There may be a knee-jerk reaction by the Government for mass vaccination and production of antiviral drugs which means another billion dollar burden on the people of India.
The clinical presentation of monkey pox resembles that of smallpox, a related orthopoxvirus infection which has been eradicated. Small pox was more easily transmitted and more often fatal as about 30% of patients died.
The last case of naturally acquired small pox occurred in 1977, and in 1980 small pox was declared to have been eradicated worldwide after a global campaign of vaccination and containment.
It has been 40 or more years since all countries ceased routine small pox vaccination with vaccinia-based vaccines. As vaccination also protected against monkey pox in west and central Africa, unvaccinated populations are now also more susceptible to monkey pox virus infection.
Whereas small pox no longer occurs naturally, the global health sector remains vigilant in the event it could reappear through natural mechanisms, laboratory accident or deliberate release.
To ensure global preparedness in the event of re-emergence of small pox, newer vaccines, diagnostics and antiviral agents are being developed. These may also now prove useful for prevention and control of monkey pox. Newer vaccines have been developed of which one has been approved for prevention of monkey pox.
An antiviral agent known as tecovirimat that was developed for small pox was licenced by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for monkey pox in 2022 based on date. Prevention is the bottom line by telling no to international travellers, spreading the disease.
(The writer is a former Joint Director, SAIL)