Mpox, smallpox and the increasing threat of orthopoxvirus epidemics

Abstract

An epidemic of clade I mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo, low population immunity to orthopoxviruses and advances in synthetic biology should be the triggers to raise our level of preparedness for resurgent orthopoxvirus epidemics.

Keywords

• smallpox
• mpox
• orthopoxvirus
• epidemic
• pandemic