Viruses other than the coronavirus made headlines in 2022
Mpox, Ebola and bird flu were among the outbreaks that hit this year
This year delivered many sobering reminders that the coronavirus isn’t the only viral threat out there.
Mpox went global
The mpox virus, a relative of the virus that causes smallpox, had never before spread widely among people outside of Central and West Africa. But in May, mpox, previously known as monkeypox, burst onto the global scene. As of November 28, there have been more than 81,100 cases across 110 countries and 55 deaths.
The disease, which can cause a rash with painful, pus-filled lesions, mainly spreads through close contact. Although anyone can be infected, outside of West and Central Africa the current outbreak is primarily affecting men who have sex with men (SN: 6/18/22, p. 6). Waning immunity worldwide to smallpox — which was eradicated in 1980, ending vaccination programs — likely helped mpox spread.