Mpox Resurgence: Preventing a Potential Pandemic Through Lessons Learned From COVID-19 Experience and Future Research Directions

Abstract

Mpox, declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), poses a growing global threat. The resurgence, driven by the highly transmissible and severe clade Ib strain from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, raises concerns about a potential pandemic. This narrative review aims to identify actionable strategies to mitigate the current Mpox outbreak by leveraging lessons from past health crises, particularly COVID-19, and to highlight future research priorities essential for global preparedness. A comprehensive literature review from 2018 to 2024 was conducted using Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed databases, focusing on Mpox transmission, vaccine efficacy, antiviral treatments, and public health responses. Our findings revealed that the resurgence of Mpox is fueled by viral evolution, ecological changes, and inadequate surveillance, exacerbated by inequitable healthcare access and insufficient public health infrastructure. While existing vaccines, such as Jynneos and ACAM2000, offer protection, their long-term efficacy and safety across diverse populations require further study. Antiviral treatments, including tecovirimat and brincidofovir, show promise but lack optimized care protocols and face challenges such as emerging resistance. Lessons from the COVID-19 response underscore the importance of enhancing global surveillance systems, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, ensuring equitable vaccine distribution, and fostering community engagement. Effective Mpox management also requires standardized treatment guidelines and the integration of genomic monitoring to track viral evolution and drug resistance. Urgent international collaboration is needed to avert a potential Mpox pandemic. Priorities include advancing research on long-term vaccine efficacy, optimizing antiviral therapies, and improving care for severe cases. Actionable recommendations include robust policies, sustainable funding, and global collaboration to strengthen pandemic preparedness and mitigate Mpox’s impact.