Fact Check: "The Mpox virus can infect the brain."
What We Know
The mpox virus, formerly known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the mpox virus, which has been shown to have neurological implications, including the potential to infect the brain. A recent case study documented a fatal instance of mpox-associated meningoencephalitis in an immunocompetent patient, where the presence of the virus was confirmed posthumously through histological examination of brain tissue, despite initial negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (Lopez et al., 2025) [source-1]. This case illustrates that mpox can lead to severe neurological complications, including encephalitis, even in patients without prior immunocompromised conditions.
Moreover, a review of the neurological aspects of mpox infection highlights that neurological manifestations can range from mild symptoms, such as headaches, to severe conditions like encephalitis and seizures (Satapathy et al., 2024) [source-2]. The mechanisms by which the virus affects the central nervous system (CNS) are still being investigated, but it is believed that the virus can disseminate to the CNS via hematogenous or neuronal routes (Satapathy et al., 2024) [source-2].
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim that the mpox virus can infect the brain is robust, particularly given the documented case of mpox-associated meningoencephalitis. The case study provides direct evidence of the virus's presence in brain tissue, confirming that it can indeed lead to severe neurological complications (Lopez et al., 2025) [source-1].
Additionally, the review of neurological complications associated with mpox emphasizes the increasing recognition of such manifestations, indicating that the medical community is becoming more aware of the potential for mpox to affect the CNS (Satapathy et al., 2024) [source-2]. The reliability of these sources is high; the case study is published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, and the review article is also from a reputable source, indicating a thorough examination of existing literature.
However, it is important to note that while the occurrence of neurological complications is documented, they are still considered rare. Prior to the recent outbreak, only a few cases of encephalitis associated with mpox were reported, primarily in immunocompromised individuals (Lopez et al., 2025) [source-1]. This context is crucial for understanding the overall risk and prevalence of brain infection due to the mpox virus.
Conclusion
The claim that "the Mpox virus can infect the brain" is True. The evidence from clinical case studies and reviews indicates that mpox can lead to serious neurological conditions, including meningoencephalitis, confirming the virus's ability to infect the brain. The presence of the virus in brain tissue, as demonstrated in the reported case, supports this conclusion and highlights the importance of considering neurological complications in patients with mpox.
Sources
- A Fatal Case of Monkeypox-Associated Encephalitis in ... - PubMed Central
- Overview of reemerging mpox infection with a focus on ... - PubMed
- Monkeypox virus spreads from cell-to-cell and leads to ... - Nature
- Mpox - World Health Organization
- Re-visiting mpox: Stealth assault on the brain and emerging biomedical ... - ScienceDirect
- Neurological complications of orthopoxvirus infections: neurotropism ... - Oxford Academic
