Monkeypox and HIV in Bogotá D.C.: epidemiological and clinical characteristics

Abstract

Monkeypox is a disease caused by the monkeypox virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus, family Poxviridae. In May and June 2022, a significant outbreak occurred and spread rapidly, affecting 44 non-endemic countries, including Colombia.  In July that year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a multinational epidemic.  Globally, 99% of the reported cases were men who have sex with men (MSM) living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

This study used an observational, analytical and retrospective methodology. The data analysis included all persons who met the operational case definition for monkeypox and whose infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this way, the objective was set to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the cases reported with monkeypox in Bogotá D. C. between May 2022 and February 2023. In addition, it sought to describe the disease’s behavior in the population of the capital district, as well as the characteristics of HIV coinfection, since the latter increases the risk of contracting monkeypox. Finally, the results show that 1,973 cases of monkeypox were confirmed by PCR in Bogota and most of those affected (98%) were men, with an average age of 39 years. 61.2% had HIV/AIDS. All cases experienced skin rashes, while hospitalization rate was low (3.8) and no deaths were recorded. Although a significant association was observed between HIV and monkeypox, this study does not establish a causal relationship between the two diseases.