Tracking the Trail of Monkeypox: From Origins to Outbreak Control.

Monkeypox virus (MPXV), a zoonotic viral disease first identified in 1958, has re-emerged as a major global health concern. The first human case was reported in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and since then, MPXV has demonstrated a clinical resemblance to smallpox, with transmission occurring through both animal-to-human and human-to-human contact. In 2022, the largest recorded outbreak resulted in over 30,000 cases across the Western Pacific, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Subsequently, between 2022 and 2024, more than 100,000 confirmed cases were documented worldwide, leading the World Health Organization to declare MPXV a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in August 2024. This review provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of MPXV, including its viral structure, life cycle, clinical manifestations, diagnostic strategies, vaccines, and emerging therapeutics. Furthermore, it examines current challenges in disease detection and control and identifies opportunities to strengthen surveillance, prevention, and treatment strategies. Overall, this article aims to serve as a consolidated resource on MPXV, highlighting its epidemiology, clinical significance, and implications for global public health preparedness.