Addressing the Silent Spread of Monkeypox Disease with Advanced Analytical Tools

Monkeypox disease is caused by a virus which belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus of the poxviridae family. This disease has recently spread out to several non-endemic countries. While some cases have been linked to travel from endemic regions, more recent infections are thought to have spread in the community without any travel links, raising the risks of a wider outbreak. This state of public health represents a highly unusual event which requires urgent surveillance. In this context, the opportunities and technological challenges of current bio/chemical sensors, nanomaterials, nanomaterial characterization instruments, and artificially intelligent biosystems collectively called advanced analytical tools are reviewed here, which will allow early detection, characterization, and inhibition of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) in the community and limit its expansion from endemic to pandemic. A summary of background information is also provided from biological and epidemiological perspective of monkeypox to support the scientific case for its holistic management using advanced analytical tools.

Automated summary

Monkeypox disease, caused by a virus belonging to the orthopoxvirus genus, has spread to non-endemic countries recently, raising concerns of a wider outbreak. This article reviews the opportunities and challenges of advanced analytical tools, such as bio/chemical sensors and nanomaterial characterization instruments, in the early detection, characterization, and inhibition of the virus, aiming to limit its expansion from endemic to pandemic. A summary of background information on monkeypox from biological and epidemiological perspectives is included to support the case for holistic management using these advanced tools.