Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2025
08:02
Experimental Viral Infection in Adult Mosquitoes by Oral Feeding and Microinjection
Published on: July 28, 2022
2.5K
Monkeypox: Early estimation of basic reproduction number R0 in Europe
Francesco Branda1, Massimo Pierini2,3, Sandra Mazzoli2
1Department of Computer Science, Modeling, Electronics and Systems Engineering (DIMES), University of Calabria, Rende, Italy.
Journal of Medical Virology
|November 2, 2022
Summary
The 2022 Monkeypox (MPX) outbreak showed unique human-to-human transmission, primarily among men who have sex with men (MSM). Early R0 estimates indicate a significant transmission potential, necessitating targeted public health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- The 2022 global Monkeypox (MPX) outbreak presented novel transmission patterns outside endemic regions, notably human-to-human spread and infections within the men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) community.
- Phylogenetic analysis identified the outbreak strain as belonging to the West African clade, subclade IIb.
- By August 30, 2022, over 48,000 cases were reported globally, with a significant proportion in Europe, highlighting the need for new epidemiological metrics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define novel epidemiological indices for the 2022 Monkeypox outbreak.
- To estimate the early basic reproduction number (R0) of Monkeypox in Europe using a new surveillance system.
- To understand the transmission dynamics within specific risk groups and the general population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the EpiMPX open data surveillance system for real-time data collection.
- Calculated an early R0 measure using European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) confirmed Monkeypox cases from the epidemic's start to August 2022.
- Analyzed R0 variability across different European countries.
Main Results:
- The pooled median R0 estimate for Monkeypox in Europe was calculated at 2.44, indicating substantial transmission potential.
- Significant variability in R0 was observed among European countries, with higher estimates in Portugal and Germany.
- The higher R0 values were predominantly associated with the men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) population, suggesting targeted transmission within this group.
Conclusions:
- Early R0 estimation is crucial for understanding Monkeypox transmission dynamics in naive populations.
- The findings support the need for targeted public health strategies to contain the spread of Monkeypox, particularly within at-risk communities.
- Continued surveillance and research are essential to effectively combat the evolving Monkeypox epidemic.
