The UK Health System's Response to the Monkeypox Outbreak of 2022: A Scoping Review

The 2022 mpox outbreak represented a major shift in transmission dynamics, with sustained community spread occurring in several nonendemic countries, including the United Kingdom. Examining how nonendemic health systems responded to this outbreak is essential for strengthening preparedness for future emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines to synthesize evidence on the UK healthcare system's response to the 2022 mpox outbreak. Electronic databases and gray literature sources were searched for publications released between January and December 2022.

Evidence was mapped across seven World Health Organization-aligned intervention domains relevant to outbreak preparedness and response. Eleven sources were included, comprising peer-reviewed studies and policy-relevant gray literature. Evidence was most frequently reported for infection prevention and control (n = 7), systems for identifying emerging and re-emerging infections (n = 6), and rapid data sharing and risk communication (n = 5). Moderate evidence addressed community engagement (n = 5) and vaccine and therapeutic capacity (n = 5). In contrast, only one source examined laboratory systems (n = 1), and no studies described structured surge capacity training for healthcare workers.

The UK response to the 2022 mpox outbreak demonstrated timely coordination, effective surveillance, and implementation of infection prevention measures in a nonendemic setting. However, important limitations remain, particularly in workforce surge capacity, domestic vaccine manufacturing, and evidence on postexposure vaccination effectiveness. Addressing these gaps is essential for strengthening health system resilience and preparedness for future outbreaks.