"Monkeypox, Gradually Spreading Since 2018"... Over 50 Variants Emerging in 4 Years

Monkeypox patient case. /Photo by Korea Science Journalists Association

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] There is a claim that the monkeypox virus may have quietly spread since 2018.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 23rd (local time), recent preliminary analyses comparing the currently circulating monkeypox virus with the virus collected in 2018 revealed that nearly 50 mutations have accumulated.

Monkeypox, a DNA-based virus, is considered to mutate slowly because it can correct its own errors during the replication of genetic material. However, monkeypox has shown a rapid increase in mutations over the past four years.

RNA viruses, including COVID-19, can have 20 to 30 mutations per year, but DNA-based viruses typically show only 1 to 2 mutations.

Dr. Trevor Bedford of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle stated, "Based on the genetic information obtained so far, it appears that the monkeypox virus has evolved over the past few years to spread more easily among people," adding, "The genetic patterns indicate that the virus began spreading around 2018."

The NYT also reported that two versions of the monkeypox virus were identified in the recent genetic analysis released by U.S. health authorities.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that about 3,000 people in 42 countries, including Korea, have been infected with the monkeypox virus so far. Since the first confirmed case was reported in the UK on May 9, the virus has spread rapidly within just over a month.

Confirmed cases are highest in Europe, including the UK, accounting for 84%, followed by North America, the Middle East, and South America. Recent first infection cases have also been reported in Southeast Asia, including Singapore and Korea.

As of the 19th, the U.S. confirmed 156 monkeypox cases across 23 states, and globally, the number of confirmed cases has tripled compared to two weeks ago.

In response to this monkeypox outbreak, the WHO convened an emergency meeting on the same day to discuss whether to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). No specific decisions have been announced yet.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.