| Causative agent | Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), Coronaviridae family. Single-stranded RNA virus, enveloped, novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) | Monkeypox virus (MPXV) (Orthopoxvirus genus, Poxviridae family) Double-stranded DNA virus |
| First identification | China’s Wuhan (December 2019) | Central and West Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, 1970, first human case) |
| Transmission | Aerosols, respiratory droplets, intimate touch, infected surfaces, and seldom via fomites | bodily fluids, breathing droplets from extended contact, infected items, close skin-to-skin contact, and zoonotic overflow from wild animals |
| Incubation period | 2–14 days (median 5 days) | 5–21 days (median 7–14 days) (median 7–14 days) 5–21 days |
| Clinical presentation | Fever, cough, sore throat, dyspnea, loss of taste or smell, and exhaustion can all lead to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multi-organ failure. | Headache, fever, lymphadenopathy (a crucial distinguishing factor), and rash that develops from macules to papules to vesicles to pustules to scabs |
| Complications | Myocarditis, ARDS, thromboembolism, and extended COVID syndromes around 0.5–2% overall (greater in older, immunocompromised, and unvaccinated individuals) | Sepsis, encephalitis, bronchopneumonia, secondary bacterial infection, and corneal infection (visual impairment) |
| Case fatality rate (CFR) | ~0.5–2% overall (higher in elderly, immunocompromised, unvaccinated) | Clade I (Congo Basin) is more severe than Clade II (West African); historically, 1–11% |
| Global impact | WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern in January 2020, with over 770 million confirmed illnesses and over 7 million fatalities worldwide. | A public health emergency of international concern was declared in July 2022; since then, over 110 nations have been impacted, with thousands of cases beyond endemic areas. Since 2022 |
| Variants/Clades and its Transmissibility impact | Omicron, Delta, Gamma, Beta, and Alpha (with sublineages)The variant waves cycle rapidly throughout the world with a lineage dominance by JN.1 between 2024 and 2025Specific variants have risen within immune escape or transmissibility, which resulting in replacement waves. | Many sublineages of Clades I (Congo Basin, greater virulence) and II (West Africa, lesser severity) have been identified.The global trend is Clade IIb while Clade I.Ib is limited to Central and East Africa. It is being exported due to individual travels to other countries.Average transmissions between humans. The change in the genetics do not produce explosiveness that is similar to COVID-18. |
| Vaccines | Many (inactivated vaccinations, viral vectors, and mRNA) extensively used | Cross-protection is offered by smallpox vaccinations (JYNNEOS/Imvamune, ACAM2000); ring vaccination techniques are employed. |
| Treatment | Antivirals (molnupiravir, nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, and Remdesivir) and supportive care | For severe instances, supportive care and antivirals (tecovirimat, brincidofovir, and cidofovir) |
| Prevention and control | Lockdowns, mask use, mass vaccination, testing, tracking, and cleanliness | Public awareness, targeted immunization, contact tracking, infection prevention, and case isolation |
| Long-term concerns | Immunoevasive variations emerging, vaccine reluctance, and prolonged COVID | Stigma, possible endemicity outside of Africa, and restricted access to vaccines in low-income areas |
| Vaccine escape | There is a marked immune escape during infection level. The updated vaccine of JN.1/KP.2 remains effective against severe disease | Insufficient evidence pointing towards antigenic escape with JYNNEOS remains protective. The protection is higher if 2 doses are administered. |
