Mpox Patterns, Prevalence, and Public Health Implications in Adult Populations: Systematic Review of the 2022–2024 Outbreak

Mpox Patterns, Prevalence, and Public Health Implications in Adult Populations: Systematic Review of the 2022–2024 Outbreak | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 11 February 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Mpox Patterns, Prevalence, and Public Health Implications in Adult Populations: Systematic Review of the 2022–2024 Outbreak Authors : Santiago Acero-Velasquez 0009-0008-0902-219X , Santiago Bautista-Laguna , Roger E. Rodríguez-Serrano , Marco Arturo Rincón , Sarah Catalina Pérez , Juan Carlos Santos-Barbosa , Maria Fernanda Villalobos-Rodriguez 0009-0005-6880-8449 , and John Mario González-Escobar [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177078250.08749953/v1 125 views 56 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract The global re-emergence of mpox virus (MPXV) during 2022–2024 marked a major epidemiologic shift characterized by sustained human-to-human transmission, rapid geographic spread, and heterogeneous surveillance approaches and testing strategies, resulting in widely variable prevalence estimates across settings. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on MPXV prevalence in adult populations during the 2022–2024 outbreak with particular attention to how population selection, symptom status, and diagnostic approaches shape reported epidemiologic patterns. A PRISMA 2020–compliant search of PubMed, Scopus, and major preprint servers identified studies reporting laboratory-confirmed MPXV infection or prevalence in adults; due to substantial heterogeneity in populations, symptom criteria, and diagnostic methods, analyses were descriptive. Twenty-eight studies including 92,971 individuals identified 12,011 confirmed cases, yielding an overall prevalence of 12.9%, predominantly among young adults (mean age 34.3 years) and symptomatic cohorts. Fever, skin lesions, and lymphadenopathy were most common, with qPCR of skin lesions providing the highest diagnostic yield; clades II and IIb predominated, with incidence peaking in 2022. MPXV epidemiology was shaped by demographic, behavioral, and diagnostic variability, underscoring the need for standardized diagnostics and non-stigmatizing public health interventions. Supplementary Material File (mpox manuscript.docx) Download 3.34 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 11 February 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords epidemiology poxvirus public policy social science virus classification Authors Affiliations Santiago Acero-Velasquez 0009-0008-0902-219X Universidad de los Andes View all articles by this author Santiago Bautista-Laguna Universidad de los Andes View all articles by this author Roger E. Rodríguez-Serrano Universidad de los Andes View all articles by this author Marco Arturo Rincón Universidad de los Andes View all articles by this author Sarah Catalina Pérez Universidad de los Andes View all articles by this author Juan Carlos Santos-Barbosa Universidad de los Andes View all articles by this author Maria Fernanda Villalobos-Rodriguez 0009-0005-6880-8449 Universidad de los Andes View all articles by this author John Mario González-Escobar [email protected] Universidad de los Andes View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 125 views 56 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Santiago Acero-Velasquez, Santiago Bautista-Laguna, Roger E. Rodríguez-Serrano, et al. Mpox Patterns, Prevalence, and Public Health Implications in Adult Populations: Systematic Review of the 2022–2024 Outbreak. Authorea . 11 February 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177078250.08749953/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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