A special communication published by Cowen et al in JAMA Dermatology covers the evolution of dermatologic knowledge of mpox, which was first detected in humans in the 1970s, through to a small 2003 self-contained U.S.-based outbreak, onto the 2022 global outbreak. The authors go on to describe the cutaneous symptoms of infection, how to perform a cutaneous assessment, transmission, infectiousness, diagnosis, and management. They concluded: “Control of the multinational mpox outbreak requires a collaborative approach between dermatology, infectious disease specialists, sexual health clinics, epidemiologists, and public health experts, as well as outreach to patient populations at greatest risk of infection. The evolution of clinical presentation from the first recorded case of mpox 52 years ago to modern-day disease serves as another important reminder that infectious diseases may evolve rapidly, and individual and collective vigilance is needed to rapidly identify and mitigate future emerging infectious diseases.”
May 24, 2023