Viral infections causing febrile rash illnesses represent a major diagnostic challenge due to the diversity of pathogens involved and the similarity of clinical symptoms. Among these viruses, we notably find:

• Monkeypox virus (Mpox, MPXV): an emerging orthopoxvirus that can cause severe skin lesions, with increased human-to-human transmission since the global outbreak in 2022.
• Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2): very common infections responsible for painful ulcerations and potentially leading to severe neurological complications (e.g., herpes encephalitis).
• Varicella-zoster virus (VZV): responsible for chickenpox in children and shingles in adults, with a risk of severe complications such as postherpetic neuralgia or ocular involvement.

These infections require rapid detection to limit their spread and prevent severe complications, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.

Focus on Mpox

Mpox is a viral infection caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), an emerging orthopoxvirus responsible for severe skin eruptions. The disease gained global significance in 2022, marked by the first declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the WHO:

• 2022: first global outbreak primarily affecting adults (MSM) in 100 non-endemic countries, with 90,000 reported cases. This outbreak was linked to clade IIb, whose initial cluster was identified in Nigeria in 2017.
• 2024: resurgence of clade Ib in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries, leading to a second PHEIC declaration by the WHO due to the rapid spread beyond endemic regions.