The Monkeypox Outbreak 2022: Women and Children Patients

Between January 1, 2022 and July 4, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) received 6,027 reports of laboratory-confirmed patients of monkeypox, predominantly men, that had occurred during a multi-country outbreak of the virus. During this period, 21 women and six children were reportedly infected with the monkeypox virus. Although the infected number of women and children was small, these data are worrisome, because young children and pregnant women are at increased risk of severe outcomes from monkeypox. One infant already has been hospitalized in intensive care in London, England. The WHO data regarding the 2022 monkeypox outbreak also indicate that 25 healthcare workers have been diagnosed with monkeypox, although it is still being investigated whether their infection was due to occupational exposure. Three deaths from monkeypox have been reported to WHO during this monkeypox outbreak. A special focus of this presentation is on the monkeypox infection involving women and children.