Suspected case of monkeypox reinfection versus reactivation in a immunocompetent patient, Barcelona, 2022

Abstract

Vaccines against smallpox are known to have cross-protective activity against monkeypox, and smallpox and monkeypox infections are believed to generate permanent immunity. Nevertheless, there are scarce data about the possibility of reinfection or reactivation. Recently, a case of apparent monkeypox reinfection has been reported. We present a suspected case of second episode of monkeypox in a healthy and previously vaccinated man, with a confirmed primary monkeypox infection occurring three months before the second confirmed presentation.