| prevalence of antibodies against orthopoxviruses among residents of likouala region, republic of congo: evidence for monkeypox virus exposure. | monkeypox virus is a zoonotic orthopoxvirus (opx) of west and central sub-saharan africa. we conducted a cross-sectional serosurvey in likouala region, republic of congo to assess exposure to opx. whole blood was collected using nobuto blood filter strips (nbfs). titers of igm and igg to opx were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. demographic and clinical characteristics were compared with serostatus using the chi-square test or fisher's exact test. multivariate logistic regres ... | 2007 | 18165539 |
| monkeypox or varicella? lessons from a rash outbreak investigation in the republic of the congo. | monkeypox virus and varicellazoster virus (vzv) cause visually similar rash illnesses. monkeypox is more virulent, with fatality rates up to 10%. in june 2007, reports were received of a rash illness outbreak in isolated villages in likouala district, republic of the congo. blood specimens were obtained from 142 individuals reporting rash illness between january and september 2007 from four villages in likouala. thirty-seven cases of probable vzv were identified based on low vzv igg avidity; cas ... | 2009 | 19346366 |