Monkeypox virus infection in pregnancy: description of two cases
reported to the Colombian National Institute of Health.
Abstract
Monkeypox (mpox), caused by the MPOXV (monkeypox virus), has been
endemic in Africa since its first identification in 1958. However, in
May 2022, the world witnessed the first global outbreak associated with
the West African clade. Even though thousands of cases have been
recorded, our understanding of vertical transmission during pregnancy
remains restricted due to an absence of reported cases in pregnant women
and a lack of adequate clinical descriptions. The cases of two pregnant
women, ages 33 and 24, who tested positive for MPOXV at 31 and 13.4
weeks of gestation, respectively, are presented. In all cases, extensive
clinical, histological, and molecular examinations of the mothers and
neonates revealed no indication of vertical transmission. Surprisingly,
both instances in Colombia were completed without difficulties. Although
monkeypox during pregnancy is uncommon, it requires extensive
multidisciplinary care.