Mapping the Intellectual Landscape: A Bibliometric Analysis of Monkeypox Literature

Monkeypox, a viral zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, has garnered increasing global attention due to its recent outbreaks beyond traditionally endemic regions. First identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958, the virus primarily spreads through rodents and can infect humans via direct contact with infected animals or through human-to-human transmission. Since the first human case in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), over 19,000 cases have been reported, primarily in Central and West Africa, with the DRC accounting for about 70% of global cases. The disease has a varying case fatality rate (CFR) depending on the strain, with the Congo Basin strain being more lethal (up to 10%) compared to the West African strain (1–3%). The recent global spread of monkeypox has led to significant research efforts aimed at understanding the virus and developing effective control strategies. This study conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of monkeypox literature from 2022 to 2024, using data from the SCOPUS database. The analysis identified a rapid increase in publications during this period, reflecting the global scientific community's response to the monkeypox outbreaks. The United States led in both the number of publications and citations, followed by China and India, with notable contributions from institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Harvard Medical School. Key journals such as the "Journal of Medical Virology" and "Emerging Infectious Diseases" were identified as major sources of monkeypox research. The study also highlighted significant international collaborations, particularly between the USA and the UK, and between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Keyword analysis revealed a focus on terms like "monkeypox virus," "vaccination," and "HIV infection," indicating key areas of interest in the research community. However, the analysis is limited by its focus on English-language publications and the specific timeframe of 2022 to 2024. Future research should consider a broader range of document types and languages, as well as a more extended temporal analysis, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of global research trends on monkeypox.