When the first cases of monkeypox were discovered in early May, European health officials were at a loss. It is known that the virus cannot easily spread among humans, let alone infect dozens, and soon hundreds of young people.
The origin of the outbreak is now becoming clearer. Genetic analysis shows that although the monkeypox virus spreads rapidly outdoors, it circulates undetected in humans for years.
"Genomic models suggest this happened around 2018," Dr Bedford said.
If the virus adapts to include humans as hosts, outbreaks of monkeypox may become more frequent and harder to contain.
“Monkeypox is a large virus with double-stranded DNA, about seven times the size of the coronavirus. DNA-based viruses can correct their own errors when reproducing their genetic material. They can collect only one or two mutations per year, compared to 20-30 mutations for an RNA virus such as the coronavirus,” writes NYT.
