Mpox Research Reveals Zoonotic Disease Prevention Needs
Author: CABI
Published: 2022/09/24 - Updated: 2025/08/28
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Announcement
Category Topic: Mpox Virus - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This article serves as a practical resource for understanding zoonotic diseases like mpox, emphasizing their transmission, symptoms, and prevention. It highlights how these infections, which spread between animals and humans, may disproportionately affect individuals with disabilities, seniors, or those with chronic health conditions due to potential barriers in accessing care or heightened vulnerability to severe outcomes. The content breaks down complex medical concepts into clear, actionable guidance, such as hygiene practices and risk-reduction strategies tailored to daily life. By addressing both general concerns and specific challenges faced by at-risk populations—including navigating healthcare systems or managing pre-existing health limitations - it offers a balanced perspective on staying informed and proactive. The straightforward presentation of information, without relying on technical jargon, makes it accessible to a broad audience seeking reliable, easy-to-understand health insights - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
The current global outbreak of mpox is yet another warning for the adoption of a preventative, One Health, approach to minimize the risk of future emergence of known and unknown zoonotic pathogens, argue Professors Diana Bell and Andrew Cunningham.
Main Content
The scientists, writing a commentary published in the CABI One Health journal, say the world "cannot afford to ignore yet another warning" such as that presented by mpox, which has so far seen 62,406 cases in 104 countries and 19 deaths*.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mpox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe.
With the eradication of smallpox in 1980 and subsequent cessation of smallpox vaccination, mpox has emerged as the most important orthopoxvirus for public health, the WHO states. Mpox primarily occurs in central and west Africa, often in proximity to tropical rainforests, and has been increasingly appearing in urban areas. A range of African rodents appears to be the natural animal hosts of the mpox virus.
Professor Bell, Professor of Conservation Biology at the University of East Anglia (UEA), and Professor Cunningham, Deputy Director of Science at ZSL's Institute of Zoology, ZSL (Zoological Society of London), says the unintended consequence of smallpox eradication - and ending the smallpox vaccination campaign - has been to "render the global human population immunologically naĂŻve to orthopoxvirus infection for the first time in history."
Professors Bell and Cunningham, in their commentary, argue:
"This has occurred at a time when the majority of people worldwide live in high population densities in cities and when connectivity across the world has never been higher, both of which facilitate the emergence and spread of infectious diseases."
"It is not surprising. Therefore, novel zoonotic orthopoxvirus infections have increased recently, or an international human mpox disease outbreak has occurred."
"A One Health approach, including consideration of land-use change and the bushmeat and exotic pet trades, is required to prevent opportunities for the emergence of mpox, or diseases caused by other orthopoxviruses, and for a rapid and effective response to any outbreaks to limit their spread."
The researchers highlight three examples where mpox has pathways to spread and where a One Health approach to its prevention is particularly needed - land use change, the bushmeat trade, and the pet trade.
Concerning the bushmeat trade, for instance, Professors Cunningham and Bell suggest that the Gambian giant pouched rat, which is a possible carrier of mpox virus, is "commonly eaten due to its relatively large size and is, therefore, of particular interest as a potential source of zoonotic infection."
They add that despite extensive legislation banning the import of threatened taxa, or indeed any wild meat from Africa, significant quantities of bushmeat are smuggled via personal luggage into major European and US cities on passenger flights from West and Central African countries where mpox is endemic in wild animals.
With regards to the pet trade, the scientists say that a 2003 outbreak of mpox in six US states was traced back to a consignment of 800 live small mammals imported from Ghana to Texas. Virological testing of some of these animals found MPV infection in three dormice, two rope squirrels, and at least one Gambian giant pouched rat.
Professors Bell and Cunningham state:
"The demand is global with intercontinental smuggling involving South America and Asia as well as Africa and Europe, fuelling the biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services crises and escalating the threat of human exposure to known and unknown pathogens harbored by wildlife along trade routes and within destination countries."
They conclude by suggesting that a One Health approach to preventing further zoonotic disease outbreaks could incorporate promoting alternatives to bushmeat, routinely vaccinating people at high risk of exposure, and educating people on hygienic procedures such as the wearing of gloves when handling live and dead wild animals.
Commentary Reference
Bell, D., and Cunningham, A., 'Monkeypox: we cannot afford to ignore yet another warning,' CABI One Health, published 23 September 2022.
*Monkeypox cases: Numbers correct as of 20 September 2022.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The convergence of urbanization, global connectivity, and diminished population immunity creates an unprecedented vulnerability to emerging zoonotic diseases that demands immediate attention from policymakers and public health officials. While the scientific community has provided clear evidence and practical prevention strategies, the recurring pattern of pandemic warnings followed by inadequate preparedness suggests that society's greatest challenge lies not in understanding these threats, but in marshaling the political will and resources necessary to implement comprehensive One Health approaches before the next outbreak transforms from a preventable risk into an unavoidable crisis.As a concluding note, this discussion underscores a pivotal moment in global health strategy: while the mpox surge exposes vulnerabilities in our interconnected world, it also presents an opportunity for policymakers and communities to prioritize proactive surveillance and cross-sector collaboration, ensuring that lessons from past zoonoses like Ebola or COVID-19 translate into resilient systems that safeguard biodiversity and human well-being alike, potentially averting the next pandemic before it takes hold - Disabled World (DW).
Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by CABI and published on 2022/09/24, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.