While the countries where cases of monkeypox have been discovered multiply – most recently France, Ireland and Mexico, Davide Mileto, microbiologist at the laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Virology and Bio-Emergency Diagnostics at the Sacco Hospital in Milan, reassures the public opinion explaining that having isolated the virus allowed to have material to understand the differences between this monkeypox and the one detected for the first time in 1958. “There are two variants, both of which originated in Africa – he explained today – and one is more dangerous than the other. Fortunately, it seems that the epidemic that currently exists in Europe is due to the less pathogenic virus ».
Just yesterday, in fact, the “monkeypoxvirus”, responsible for the monkeypox currently present in Europe, was isolated, together with his researcher colleague Miriam Cutrera. “Now – explained Miletus – it will be possible to test antiviral drugs, currently not available against this virus”.