Reference:
Ribeiro da Silva, S. J., Kohl, A., Pena, L., & Pardee, K. (2023). Clinical and laboratory diagnosis of monkeypox (mpox): Current status and future directions. iScience, 26, 106759. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.106759
Summary:
The resurgence of monkeypox (mpox) as a global health concern necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its clinical and laboratory diagnosis. This article reviews the historical context of mpox, highlighting its emergence beyond endemic regions and the unique clinical manifestations observed in recent outbreaks, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). The authors emphasise the challenges of clinical diagnosis due to symptom overlap with other conditions, underscoring the critical role of laboratory testing. Various diagnostic methods, including nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and serological assays, are evaluated regarding their advantages and limitations, particularly in low-resource settings. The paper advocates for the development of innovative, cost-effective diagnostic tools to enhance testing capacity globally. Furthermore, the authors stress the importance of genomic surveillance and wastewater epidemiology in monitoring virus spread and informing public health responses. Overall, the article serves as a resource to guide clinical practices and inspire further research in combating mpox and similar infectious threats. This summary encapsulates the essence of the article while adhering to the specified formatting requirements.