Why Should RNA Viruses Have All the Fun - Monkeypox, a Close Relative of Smallpox and a DNA Virus.

Abstract

Looking at the potential of the two kinds of viruses, the RNA and DNA viruses, to cause epidemics and pandemics, the RNA viruses clearly stand out.[1] Some of the prominent RNA viruses in this category are Orthomyxoviruses (Influenza and H1N1 pandemics), Coronaviruses (severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome, and COVID-19 pandemics), Flaviviruses (Japanese encephalitis, Dengue, yellow fever, West Nile fever), Filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg), Paramyxoviruses (Nipah), and many more.[2] The DNA viruses have been present in and coevolved with humans for long periods and therefore rarely cause outbreaks and pandemics.[2] Most RNA viruses are zoonotic and many of them have recent zoonotic evolution making humans more susceptible to outbreaks from them.[1,2] Ever since the eradication of the dreaded DNA virus Variola major that caused smallpox (SPX), in 1980, none of the other DNA viruses have got much attention of public health professionals, international media, and public for being a cause of concern for global health security.[3]