Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (Dec 2022)

First Case of Monkeypox in Venezuela: Partial Complete Genome Sequence Allowed Its Grouping into the West African Clade II

  • Pierina D’Angelo,
  • Carmen L. Loureiro,
  • Rossana C. Jaspe,
  • Yoneira F. Sulbaran,
  • Lieska Rodríguez,
  • Víctor Alarcón,
  • José Manuel García,
  • José Luis Zambrano,
  • Ferdinando Liprandi,
  • Héctor R. Rangel,
  • Flor H. Pujol

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010002
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
p. 2

Abstract

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The ongoing epidemic of monkeypox virus (MPXV) infection has already reached more than 50,000 persons worldwide until the end of August 2022. We report the first case detected in Venezuela. The patient reported traveling from Spain and contact with friends tested positive for MPXV after his return. Partial complete genome phylogenetic analysis allowed to group the isolate within the clade II of MPXV, the major one circulating worldwide. No other case of MPXV has been detected until the end of August 2022 in the country, although the presence of undiagnosed cases due to the fear of stigmatization cannot be ruled out.

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