Indeed...
HEALTH Monkeypox - more bad news
- Thread starter helen
- Start date
- Status
Yeah. At a minimum being cousins doesn't help and I'm guessing the course of mutation for "Mpox" will follow a similar path that Smallpox took.
psychgirl
TB Fanatic
Exactly!! I came here to ask same question!
You really can’t tell the difference from either is what I’ve “heard”
At least in many cases, they almost can’t
helen
Panic Sex Lady
New Mpox Strain Is 'Most Dangerous' Ever Found
Strain's rapid spread in DR Congo is 'incredibly worrying,' researchers say
www.newser.com
Director of Global Health Network at Oxford University Trudie Lang says that in an "incredibly worrying" change, the new strain is spreading through touch in settings like workplaces and schools
Heliobas Disciple
TB Fanatic
WHO and scientists call for urgent action on highly dangerous mpox strain
A mutated strain of mpox spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo has estimated fatality rates of around 5% in adults and 10% in children.
www.nbcnews.com
WHO and scientists call for urgent action on highly dangerous mpox strain
A mutated strain of mpox spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo has estimated fatality rates of around 5% in adults and 10% in children.
By Reuters
June 25, 2024, 4:57 PM UTC
The spread of mpox in Africa needs to be addressed urgently, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, as scientists warned separately of a dangerous strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“There is a critical need to address the recent surge in mpox cases in Africa,” Rosamund Lewis, the WHO’s technical lead for mpox, said in a briefing note to journalists.
In a separate briefing, John Claude Udahemuka of the University of Rwanda, who has been working on an outbreak in Congo’s hard-to-reach South Kivu province, said the strain spreading there — a mutated version of the clade I mpox endemic in Congo for decades — was extremely dangerous. It has fatality rates of around 5% in adults and 10% in children.
This year, roughly 8,600 mpox cases have been reported in Congo, and 410 deaths, Cris Kacita, the doctor in charge of operations in the country’s mpox control programme, told Reuters last week.
Mpox is a viral infection that spreads through close contact, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. Most cases are mild but it can kill.
A different, less severe form of the virus — clade IIb — spread globally in 2022, largely through sexual contact among men who have sex with men. This prompted the WHO to declare a public health emergency. Although that has ended, Lewis said on Tuesday the disease remained a health threat. Two people died in South Africa this month of this form of the virus after a handful of cases were diagnosed.
Vaccines and treatments were used to combat the global outbreak, but they are not available in Congo.
The WHO and scientists said efforts were ongoing to address that.
In South Kivu, Adahemuka and other researchers said the new strain was spreading partly by sexual contact among men and women, and particularly among sex workers.
He said other close contact routes needed study, with evidence of transmission at school and from caregiver to child. The disease also seemed to be causing miscarriages among pregnant women as well as a longer-term rash and other lingering symptoms, the team said.
Leandre Murhula Masirika, research co-ordinator in the health department in South Kivu province, said 20 cases were arriving at hospital in the mining town of Kamituga every week.
“At the rate things are going, we risk becoming a source of cases for other countries,” said Kacita. South Kivu borders Rwanda and Burundi.
He said 24 of 26 provinces in Congo were affected and the outbreak was the worst mpox epidemic yet.
Heliobas Disciple
TB Fanatic
(fair use applies)
New Mutated Clade 1B Strain of Mpox That Is Highly Lethal Causes Global Panic As Cases Surge in Congo
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team
Jun 26, 2024
A new and highly dangerous strain of Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has been identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), causing global alarm. This mutated variant belonging to the clade 1b, is spreading rapidly and has a significantly higher fatality rate compared to other known strains. The World Health Organization (WHO) and scientists are urging immediate action to contain this outbreak and prevent its spread beyond Africa.
The alarming rise of Mpox infections was highlighted by Thailand Medical News in our Mpox News coverages in November 2023 and in March 2024.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/ne...-concern-as-lots-of-children-getting-infected
https://www.thailandmedical.news/ne...ing-once-again-globally-and-now-also-in-congo
First detected in February 2024, the new mutated strain clade 1b is described by experts as the most dangerous strain of Mpox to date. Unlike previous variants that primarily spread through sexual contact among men who have sex with men, clade 1b does not require sexual contact for transmission. This new strain spreads through touch and close contact, making it much harder to contain.
Researchers have reported cases of clade 1b spreading in schools, workplaces, and from mother to child. The disease has caused numerous miscarriages among pregnant women and presents with symptoms that are more severe and widespread than earlier strains. Lesions and blistering cover the entire body rather than being confined to specific areas, and patients frequently experience whole-body rashes, eye problems, and high fever.
Fatality Rates and Spread
The fatality rates associated with clade 1b are particularly concerning, with an estimated 5% mortality rate in adults and 10% in children. To date, roughly 8,600 mpox cases have been reported in the DRC this year, resulting in 410 deaths.
www.who.int
Health officials are warning that these numbers could rise significantly if the outbreak is not contained.
Dr Cris Kacita, who oversees the DRC’s mpox control program, highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that 24 out of the country's 26 provinces are affected. South Kivu, a hard-to-reach province in the DRC, has been particularly imp acted, with the mining town of Kamituga reporting around 20 new cases each week. Given the proximity of South Kivu to Rwanda and Burundi, there are serious concerns about the virus crossing borders and spreading to neighboring countries.
Urgent Calls for Action
The WHO and other health organizations are calling for urgent international support to address the outbreak. Dr Rosamund Lewis, the WHO’s technical lead for mpox, emphasized the critical need for a coordinated response to manage the surge in cases. Efforts are underway to secure vaccines and treatments, but access remains limited, particularly in affected regions of the DRC.
The WHO has issued new guidelines enhancing the prevention for control of mpox
www.who.int
Dr John Claude Udahemuka, a researcher from the University of Rwanda working on the ground in South Kivu, stressed the importance of studying the new strain’s transmission routes. Evidence suggests that clade 1b is spreading through non-sexual close contact, including caregiver-to-child transmission and within educational settings. The disease also appears to be causing longer-term symptoms, with patients experiencing persistent rashes and other lingering effects.
Potential for Global Spread
Experts fear that the new strain could follow a similar trajectory to clade IIb, which spread globally in 2022. Given the interconnectedness of the region and the movement of people, particularly sex workers who travel between the DRC and neighboring countries, the potential for international spread is high. Goma, a major city in the DRC with an international airport, has already reported a significant outbreak, raising concerns about the virus reaching Europe and beyond.
Researchers believe that the initial outbreak in Kamituga can be traced back to a man who traveled to the town and had contact with multiple sex workers, thereby facilitating the spread of the virus. However, the exact mechanisms behind the virus’s mutation and increased transmissibility remain unclear, adding to the list of unknowns about this dangerous new strain.
The Need for Enhanced Surveillance and Research
The current outbreak highlights the need for improved surveillance and research to better understand and combat the new strain. PCR tests designed for diagnosing mpox are not effective against clade 1b, meaning many cases may go undetected. This lack of effective diagnostic tools hampers efforts to track and control the spread of the virus.
Health authorities in the region are overwhelmed, and there is an urgent need for international assistance. The WHO, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the governments of the DRC and Rwanda are in discussions to secure vaccines and other resources. However, the efficacy of existing vaccines against clade 1b remains uncertain, complicating the response efforts.
Conclusion
The emergence of clade 1b mpox in the DRC is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by infectious diseases and the need for global vigilance. As the situation evolves, coordinated international action is crucial to prevent a widespread outbreak. The WHO and scientists are urging immediate support to contain the virus, protect vulnerable populations, and prevent the new strain from becoming a global health crisis.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/ne...x-cases-are-once-again-rising-since-mid-april
New Mutated Clade 1B Strain of Mpox That Is Highly Lethal Causes Global Panic As Cases Surge in Congo
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team
Jun 26, 2024
A new and highly dangerous strain of Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, has been identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), causing global alarm. This mutated variant belonging to the clade 1b, is spreading rapidly and has a significantly higher fatality rate compared to other known strains. The World Health Organization (WHO) and scientists are urging immediate action to contain this outbreak and prevent its spread beyond Africa.
The alarming rise of Mpox infections was highlighted by Thailand Medical News in our Mpox News coverages in November 2023 and in March 2024.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/ne...-concern-as-lots-of-children-getting-infected
https://www.thailandmedical.news/ne...ing-once-again-globally-and-now-also-in-congo
First detected in February 2024, the new mutated strain clade 1b is described by experts as the most dangerous strain of Mpox to date. Unlike previous variants that primarily spread through sexual contact among men who have sex with men, clade 1b does not require sexual contact for transmission. This new strain spreads through touch and close contact, making it much harder to contain.
Researchers have reported cases of clade 1b spreading in schools, workplaces, and from mother to child. The disease has caused numerous miscarriages among pregnant women and presents with symptoms that are more severe and widespread than earlier strains. Lesions and blistering cover the entire body rather than being confined to specific areas, and patients frequently experience whole-body rashes, eye problems, and high fever.
Fatality Rates and Spread
The fatality rates associated with clade 1b are particularly concerning, with an estimated 5% mortality rate in adults and 10% in children. To date, roughly 8,600 mpox cases have been reported in the DRC this year, resulting in 410 deaths.
Mpox - Democratic Republic of the Congo
In December 2022, the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a national outbreak of mpox and an incident management system has been in place since February 2023, based on the increasing number of reported cases. Since September 2023, an outbreak of mpox in South Kivu province has...
Health officials are warning that these numbers could rise significantly if the outbreak is not contained.
Dr Cris Kacita, who oversees the DRC’s mpox control program, highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that 24 out of the country's 26 provinces are affected. South Kivu, a hard-to-reach province in the DRC, has been particularly imp acted, with the mining town of Kamituga reporting around 20 new cases each week. Given the proximity of South Kivu to Rwanda and Burundi, there are serious concerns about the virus crossing borders and spreading to neighboring countries.
Urgent Calls for Action
The WHO and other health organizations are calling for urgent international support to address the outbreak. Dr Rosamund Lewis, the WHO’s technical lead for mpox, emphasized the critical need for a coordinated response to manage the surge in cases. Efforts are underway to secure vaccines and treatments, but access remains limited, particularly in affected regions of the DRC.
The WHO has issued new guidelines enhancing the prevention for control of mpox
Strategic framework for enhancing prevention and control of mpox- 2024-2027
The overarching goal to achieve and sustain elimination of human-tohuman transmission of mpox can be achieved with investment of the necessary resources and coordinated collaboration towards three core objectives, which are to: (1) achieve control of mpox outbreaks in every context; (2) advance...
Dr John Claude Udahemuka, a researcher from the University of Rwanda working on the ground in South Kivu, stressed the importance of studying the new strain’s transmission routes. Evidence suggests that clade 1b is spreading through non-sexual close contact, including caregiver-to-child transmission and within educational settings. The disease also appears to be causing longer-term symptoms, with patients experiencing persistent rashes and other lingering effects.
Potential for Global Spread
Experts fear that the new strain could follow a similar trajectory to clade IIb, which spread globally in 2022. Given the interconnectedness of the region and the movement of people, particularly sex workers who travel between the DRC and neighboring countries, the potential for international spread is high. Goma, a major city in the DRC with an international airport, has already reported a significant outbreak, raising concerns about the virus reaching Europe and beyond.
Researchers believe that the initial outbreak in Kamituga can be traced back to a man who traveled to the town and had contact with multiple sex workers, thereby facilitating the spread of the virus. However, the exact mechanisms behind the virus’s mutation and increased transmissibility remain unclear, adding to the list of unknowns about this dangerous new strain.
The Need for Enhanced Surveillance and Research
The current outbreak highlights the need for improved surveillance and research to better understand and combat the new strain. PCR tests designed for diagnosing mpox are not effective against clade 1b, meaning many cases may go undetected. This lack of effective diagnostic tools hampers efforts to track and control the spread of the virus.
Health authorities in the region are overwhelmed, and there is an urgent need for international assistance. The WHO, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the governments of the DRC and Rwanda are in discussions to secure vaccines and other resources. However, the efficacy of existing vaccines against clade 1b remains uncertain, complicating the response efforts.
Conclusion
The emergence of clade 1b mpox in the DRC is a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by infectious diseases and the need for global vigilance. As the situation evolves, coordinated international action is crucial to prevent a widespread outbreak. The WHO and scientists are urging immediate support to contain the virus, protect vulnerable populations, and prevent the new strain from becoming a global health crisis.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/ne...x-cases-are-once-again-rising-since-mid-april
Heliobas Disciple
TB Fanatic
Global Health Authorities Press The Panic Button As A Strain Of Monkeypox That Is "10 Times Deadlier" Starts Spreading Rapidly
A deadly new strain of monkeypox that is "killing children and causing miscarriages" is causing a tremendous amount of fear among global health authorities. We are being told that this strain is "10 times deadlier"
themostimportantnews.com
Global Health Authorities Press The Panic Button As A Strain Of Monkeypox That Is “10 Times Deadlier” Starts Spreading Rapidly
Michael Snyder
June 26, 2024
A deadly new strain of monkeypox that is “killing children and causing miscarriages” is causing a tremendous amount of fear among global health authorities. We are being told that this strain is “10 times deadlier” than the one that infected people in more than 100 different countries in 2022, and apparently it spreads much more easily. The World Health Organization is sounding the alarm about what might happen if there is a full-blown global outbreak of this new strain, and some experts are concerned that it may already be too late to prevent that from happening.
Right now, the news is filled with lots of ominous stories about this new strain of monkeypox. The dramatic surge of cases that we are currently witnessing in the Democratic Republic of Congo has officials at the WHO extremely concerned…
The spread of mpox in Africa needs to be addressed urgently, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, as scientists warned separately of a dangerous strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“There is a critical need to address the recent surge in mpox cases in Africa,” Rosamund Lewis, the WHO’s technical lead for mpox, said in a briefing note to journalists.
The strain of monkeypox that spread around the world in 2022 caused excruciating pain, but there were very few deaths.
Unfortunately, this new strain of monkeypox still causes excruciating pain, but it also has a high death rate.
Of the 384 people that monkeypox has killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo so far this year, over 60 percent of them have been children…
There remain many “important unknowns” about the new strain, Lang cautioned, comparing this stage of investigation to the early days of Covid-19.
Out of 384 people who died from all mpox strains in DR Congo this year, more than 60 percent were children, according to the World Health Organization.
It is being reported that this new strain of monkeypox is “10 times deadlier”, and those that get infected often develop “horrendous whole body rashes”…
It gives sufferers “horrendous whole body rashes,” unlike clade II, which caused lesions normally more limited to the genital area, said Trudie Lang, a global health researcher at Oxford University.
Even if you don’t die, if you get infected you are going to experience absolutely horrifying pain and you are likely to develop disgusting sores all over your body.
The good news is that this strain of monkeypox has not appeared in the western world yet.
But authorities are warning that it could be just a matter of time before that happens…
There are fears the new virus – now officially called mpox – could quickly spread to Europe and beyond.
The mutant variant, clade 1b, is “undoubtedly the most dangerous strain of mpox yet,” stressed Prof Trudie Lang, the director of Global Health Network at Oxford University.
The strain that caused so much chaos in 2022 was spread primarily by sexual contact between men.
But this new strain can spread much more easily without any sexual contact at all. That is why so many children are getting infected…
The new strain of the virus does not require sexual contact to spread.
On a Zoom call with journalists on Tuesday, the researchers confirmed that clade 1b is spreading through touch, something which is “incredibly worrying,” according to Prof Lang.
It was spreading mother to child, as well as in schools and workplaces, they said.
Can you imagine the panic that is going to erupt if this thing gets loose in the western world?
Anyone that has any sort of visible sores will instantly cause people around them to freak out when they go out in public.
We will want to keep a very close eye on this one.
Meanwhile, an unprecedented outbreak of dengue fever has already infected close to 10 million people on our side of the globe…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory on Tuesday warning the public of a heightened risk of dengue virus (DENV) infections in the U.S. this year as cases continue to rise around the globe.
Countries in the Americas reported the highest number of cases ever, exceeding the record for a full year in less than six months. Since the start of 2024, there have been a total of 9.7 million dengue cases, more than twice the number recorded in all of 2023 (4.6 million).
We have never seen a dengue fever outbreak of this magnitude before.
Hopefully it will not continue to get worse.
On top of everything else, former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield is warning that “we will have a bird flu pandemic”…
“I really do think it’s very likely that we will, at some time, it’s not a question of if, it’s more of a question of when we will have a bird flu pandemic,” Redfield told NewsNation on Friday.
He added that the mortality rate is likely to be much higher from bird flu compared to Covid-19.
While the mortality rate was 0.6 per cent for Covid-19, Redfield said the mortality for the bird flu would probably be “somewhere between 25 and 50 percent.”
We have already been through a pandemic that had a death rate of well under 1 percent, and we all saw the immense panic that it caused.
So what would a pandemic with a 25 to 50 percent death rate look like?
You might want to think about that, because they are telling us that it is coming.
This week, the FDA announced that it will be testing 155 different grocery store products for traces of the bird flu…
Ice cream, butter and cheese are among the latest products set to be tested for bird flu by the FDA — amid a rampant outbreak in dairy cows.
In a release, the agency revealed it would swab 155 products bought from grocery stores nationwide for traces of the H5N1 virus.
If any are positive for the virus, further tests will be carried out to determine whether the virus inside them is ‘alive’ — or able to cause an infection in humans.
For the moment, life in America feels at least somewhat normal.
But as we have seen before, that can change in the blink of an eye.
We live at a time when horrifying outbreaks of disease will be very common, and once a deadly bug gets loose it can spread around the globe very rapidly.
The last pandemic was extremely unpleasant, but the truth is that it was just a warm up for what is ahead of us.
So enjoy this summer while you still can, because a number of extremely dangerous diseases are already on the verge of becoming major problems, and it is just a matter of time before all of our lives are once again turned upside down by another worldwide health crisis.
bracketquant
Veteran Member
Mpox and the Dems open border policy should be front and center, with Trump, in the debate.
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
The following landed in my Inbox from Helen:
Clade 1b is NOT clade 1 or clade 2.
It's outside of Congo now, definitely found in Rwanda, in Goma.
Not an STD for gay guys this time.
New strain of monkeypox causes miscarriages and spreads rapidly without sexual contact, experts warn
starts at 5/5 \/\/\/
Experts Sound Alarm Over More Dangerous Mpox Strain That Spreads Sans Sexual Contact
This article is in 6/6 below.
Scroll to the bottom and start reading UP from there. How quickly it spread in 2022.
Monkeypox Timeline | Think Global Health
Give me a few minutes to post these in more or less toto.
Clade 1b is NOT clade 1 or clade 2.
It's outside of Congo now, definitely found in Rwanda, in Goma.
Not an STD for gay guys this time.
New strain of monkeypox causes miscarriages and spreads rapidly without sexual contact, experts warn
starts at 5/5 \/\/\/
Experts Sound Alarm Over More Dangerous Mpox Strain That Spreads Sans Sexual Contact
This article is in 6/6 below.
Scroll to the bottom and start reading UP from there. How quickly it spread in 2022.
Monkeypox Timeline | Think Global Health
Give me a few minutes to post these in more or less toto.
Last edited:
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
historic time line from 2022.
The first human case of monkeypox—a rare zoonotic virus that can transmit from animals to people—was recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. Since then, the disease has become endemic in parts of West Africa, although outbreaks have been known to occur in other places, such as the United States in 2003 and now in over 60 non-endemic countries. This timeline was a running account, gathered in real-time, of key events in the 2022 outbreak as they unfolded from May 2022 to January 2023. As of January 20, this timeline is not being updated. You can access all of Think Global Health's monkeypox coverage here.
.
The first human case of monkeypox—a rare zoonotic virus that can transmit from animals to people—was recorded in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. Since then, the disease has become endemic in parts of West Africa, although outbreaks have been known to occur in other places, such as the United States in 2003 and now in over 60 non-endemic countries. This timeline was a running account, gathered in real-time, of key events in the 2022 outbreak as they unfolded from May 2022 to January 2023. As of January 20, this timeline is not being updated. You can access all of Think Global Health's monkeypox coverage here.
Status as of January 20, 2022
- Total Cases Confirmed Globally: 84,916
- Total Deaths Confirmed Globally: 81
- Number of Countries with Confirmed Cases: 110
Ongoing Timeline of Events Follows
Confirmed Monkeypox Cases Since January 2022
Weeks of December 30 to January 12: Experts Worry Mpox Will Go Under-reported; One Dose of Jynneos Vaccine Can Minimize Mpox Severity, Hospitalizations
January 10- As mpox cases wane, experts express concern that infections will go under-reported.
- A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report suggests receiving one dose of the two-dose Jynneos vaccine for mpox can minimize illness severity and reduce hospitalization. The CDC still recommends receiving the full course of two-doses to optimize protection.
Weeks of December 16 to December 29: WHO Says Mpox Outbreak Is Waning; U.S. Mpox Management Transitioning Out of White House
December 27- A report from Politico suggests management of the mpox outbreak will transition at least partially from the White House to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- In its yearly health highlights, the World Health Organization calls the mpox outbreak "waning."
Weeks of December 2 to December 15: FDA Approves New Mpox Kit; Biden Administration to Lift Mpox Health Emergency Soon
December 14- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues an emergency use authorization for an mpox detection kit made by Thermo Fisher Scientific.
- Officials in the Biden administration say they plan to lift the monkeypox health emergency soon.
Weeks of November 18 to December 1: African Continent Receives First Batch of Vaccines; WHO Recommends New Disease Name; Europe Secures More Vaccine Doses
December 1- The continent of Africa will receive 50,000 monkeypox vaccine doses as a donation from South Korea. This will be Africa's first batch of vaccines received since the public health emergency of international concern was announced in July 2022.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a new name for monkeypox. Over the coming year, WHO will phase out "monkeypox" in favor of the preferred "mpox."
- The European Commission's Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority secures an additional two million doses of the monkeypox vaccine from manufacturer Bavarian Nordic.
Weeks of November 4 to November 17: New York City Phases Out Vaccine Vans; FDA Authorizes Monkeypox Test; Bavarian Nordic Sells Vaccine
November 17- New York City phases out its monkeypox vaccine vans, which administered vaccinations outside nightclubs and sex parties. The local department of health will continue to offer vaccinations through sexual health clinics.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues an emergency authorization for a monkeypox test pioneered by Swiss company Roche.
- Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic reportedly sells its monkeypox vaccine for between $70 and $300 per dose, pushing its revenues to all-time highs.
Weeks of October 21 to November 3: Pre-Symptomatic Transmission May Be Possible; U.S. Death Toll Hits Ten; Ireland Purchases More Vaccine Doses
November 2- A BMJ study using data from the United Kingdom shows that monkeypox may be able to spread before symptoms become visible.
- The U.S. death toll from monkeypox hits 10. More than a quarter of global deaths from the ongoing monkeypox outbreak have been in the United States.
- Ireland announces the purchase of another 15,000 monkeypox vaccine doses.
Week of October 14 to October 20: Clade I Variant Spreading in Central Africa; China Starts Work on Monkeypox Vaccine; Mexico's Vaccine Shortage Pushes Citizens to Seek Vaccine Abroad
October 20- Reports warn that the Clade I monkeypox variant, which is ten times deadlier than the globally-circulating Clade II variant, is spreading in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
- China National Biotec Group, a vaccine manufacturer owned by the Chinese government, starts work on a vaccine using a monkeypox virus sample isolated from the current outbreak. The vaccine being deployed now is a repurposed shot originally engineered to target smallpox.
- Due to a domestic shortage, Mexican citizens are traveling abroad to seek the vaccine.
Week of October 7 to October 13: Ireland to Open Vaccination Centers; United States and Democratic Republic of the Congo Collaborating on Clinical Trial
October 12- The Republic of Ireland announces plans to open eleven monkeypox vaccination centers across the country, aiming to vaccinate high priority groups by December.
- The U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's National Institute for Biomedical Research begin a clinical trial to test the efficacy of monkeypox therapeutic TPOXX.
Week of September 30 to October 6: Spikes in Sudanese Refugee Camps; U.S. CDC Announces U.S. Outbreak is Slowing; U.S. HHS Expands Workforce Authorization for Vaccine
October 5- A new report from the Kaiser Family Foundations shows monkeypox rates among Black people in the United States are over five times those of White people.
- The United Nations High Commission for Refugees reports a spike in monkeypox cases in Sudanese refugee camps.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expands the workforce authorized to administer the monkeypox vaccine to include paramedics, dentists, nurses, midwives, veterinarians, and other healthcare workers.
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the domestic outbreak is slowing, but monkeypox will likely continue to circulate at low levels in the United States.
Week of September 23 to September 29: Early U.S. Data Suggests Vaccine Is Effective; WHO Releases Taxonomy to Target Monkeypox Misinformation; UK Announces Second-Dose Eligibility
September 28- Preliminary data suggests the Jynneos vaccine for monkeypox is effective in slowing infection, but U.S. health authorities advise at-risk individuals should continue taking precautions.
- Pharmaceutical company Siga Tech wins a contract bid from the U.S. Department of Defense for its anti-monkeypox therapeutic TPOXX.
- The World Health Organization releases a public health social listening taxonomy for monkeypox conversations in an effort to address misinformation surrounding the disease and its spread.
- The United Kingdom Health Security Agency announces that at-risk individuals will be eligible for a second dose of the monkeypox vaccine.
Week of September 16 to September 22: Canada Orders More Vaccines; Household Contacts May Contribute to Monkeypox Exposure; Officials Warn Against TPOXX Overprescription
September 20- Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic has expanded its contract with Canada's public health agency to provide monkeypox vaccines. The new agreement will see a majority of the doses delivered in 2023.
- Newly-identified pediatric cases spotlight the role of household contacts and surface contamination in monkeypox exposure and infection.
- Health officials in the United States have urged physicians against overprescribing therapeutic TPOXX in an effort to prevent viral mutations that counteract the drug's efficacy.
Week of September 9 to September 15: Still No Vaccines for Africa; Community Vaccine Outreach in the United States; New Study on How Monkeypox Affects Brain Health
September 14- African health leaders highlight disparities in vaccine equity between Western countries and African ones, and worry interest in fighting monkeypox in Africa will evaporate as cases decline in the West.
- United States rolls out a more localized vaccination strategy to reach vulnerable populations in smaller venues.
- Community health workers push to get monkeypox vaccines to Black men who have sex with men in North Carolina, where Black people make up 67 percent of monkeypox cases but only 27 percent of those vaccinated.
- Physician Demetre Daskalakis evaluates the U.S monkeypox outbreak one month into his job as deputy coordinator for the White House Monkeypox Response.
- A new study suggests monkeypox may cause neurological damage, including brain inflammation. A small but noticeable proportion of people (two to three percent) with monkeypox who participated in the study became very unwell and developed serious neurological problems.
Week of September 2 to September 8: Latin American Activists Call for Better Monkeypox Response; Cases Decline in Spain; First Cases in Hong Kong and Egypt
September 8- The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti reports 524 confirmed cases and 12 deaths across 11 African countries. Nigeria is the leader in cases, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- U.S. universities use lessons of COVID-19 to help prevent monkeypox spread on university campuses.
- Egypt reports first case.
- The Director of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) highlighted that over 30,000 cases have been reported in the region, making the Americas the global epicenter of the pandemic. Most cases are concentrated in the United States, Brazil, Peru and Canada, and primarily among men who have sex with men, although at least 145 cases have been reported in women and 54 among people under the age of 18.
- PAHO secures 100,00 vaccine doses for Latin America and the Caribbean.
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said it will significantly expand the number of distribution locations for monkeypox vaccines and Tpoxx treatment through a new $20 million contract with AmerisourceBergen Corp. More than 352,600 people in the United States have been vaccinated against monkeypox with the JYNNEOS vaccine.
- According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people of color make up more than two-thirds of reported cases in the nation with 29 percent of cases reported among Hispanic people and 37.8 percent reported among Black people. However, only 22.1 percent of first doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine have been administered to Hispanic Americans and 10.4 percent have been given to Black Americans, data from the CDC shows.
- Hong Kong reports its first case of monkeypox.
- Monkeypox infections decline in Spain.
- Monkeypox cases in the United States may be declining due to vaccination campaigns and altered sexual practices, but experts urge caution.
- Virologists suggest the increased prevalence of infectious diseases, including monkeypox, could be related to climate change because the changing environmental conditions make it easier for viruses to spread.
- Latin American rights activists call on their governments for a more robust monkeypox response, accusing them of underreporting cases. Latin American currently accounts for approximately 15 percent of confirmed cases worldwide.
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August 1
Week of August 26 to September 1: First Monkeypox Death in United States; Very Few in U.S Have Received Full Course of the Monkeypox Vaccine
August 30- United States rolls out monkeypox vaccine equity program designed to make vaccines more accessible to low-income and minority communities.
- First U.S. death from monkeypox recorded in Texas. The patient was severely immunocompromised.
- World Health Organization states monkeypox can be eliminated in Europe.
- United States to provide $11 million in funding to support the packaging of the JYNNEOS monkeypox vaccine at Bavarian Nordic's U.S.-based manufacturing facility.
- Daily totals of new monkeypox cases decline in New York City from about 70 a day to 50.
- Doctors report seeing monkeypox patients with a variety of symptoms that are not typical of monkeypox and some that have no symptoms.
- CDC Director Rochelle Walensky reports that almost 97 percent of monkeypox doses administered in the United States have been first doses, meaning very few have receeved a full course of the vaccine.
Week of August 19 to August 25: Vaccine Tourism in Europe; WHO Reports Decline in Global Cases; Bavarian Nordic to Boost Production
August 25- WHO reports 21 percent decline in monkeypox cases globally.
- Vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic vows to boost vaccine production to make up for shortfall.
- Switzerland orders 400,000 monkeypox vaccines.
- Mexico reports the death of an HIV-positive man from monkeypox.
- Cuba reports the death of a man from Italy who died of monkeypox.
- United Kingdom and Spain to pilot 'vaccine-dosing' strategy to conserve doses.
- Indonesia reports first case of monkeypox in someone who traveled from abroad.
- European Union backs 'vaccine dosing' strategy to conserve vaccines.
Week of August 12 to August 18: WHO Solicits Suggestions for New Monkeypox Name from Public; Iran Reports First Case; Spain Asks European Medicines Agency to Approve 'Dose-Spreading' Vaccination Strategy
August 18- White House announces new actions to combat monkeypox outbreak, namely making more doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine and the antiviral treatment Tpoxx available and targeting measures toward areas with large LGBTQ+ populations.
- European Union countries see spike in vaccine tourism as inequitable distribution drives people to cross borders in pursuit of vaccination.
- Countries around the world struggle to buy monkeypox vaccines in sufficient numbers due to supply chain constraints. These constraints are felt acutely in Africa, where so far no vaccines are available.
- World Health Organization (WHO) opens the process for renaming monkeypox to the public.
- Iran reports first case of monkeypox.
- France reports first suspected case of human-to-dog transmission of monkeypox.
- Cases appear to be slowing in New York, although they are still rising.
- A new study conducted in Spain suggests that smallpox vaccines may not provide life-long immunity from monkeypox.
- Canada's chief public health officer signals that the spread of monkeypox may be slowing but that public health authorities in Canada will remain vigilant.
- Spain asks the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to approve the 'dose-spreading' strategy for administering monkeypox vaccines in an attempt to make vaccines available to more people.
Week of August 5 to August 11: U.S. Approves New 'Dose-Spreading' Vaccine Strategy; Monkeys Attacked in Brazil; Spread Slows in UK
August 10- WHO asks people not to attack monkeys after several monkeys were poisoned or stoned in Brazil. Despite its name, monkeypox is spread through human-to-human transmission and not by monkeys.
- The European Medicines Agency (EMA) considers 'dose-spreading' strategy approved by the United States, but the WHO has called for more data and trials before such a strategy is used.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new way of administering monkeypox vaccines in which each person would receive a smaller dose in an effort to make a limited number of vaccines stretch to more people. The new method, which was authorized under an Emergency Use Authorization, has elicited controversy among experts.
- United States purchases $26 million worth of Sigma VI's intravenous monkeypox treatment Tpoxx.
- Police in Washington, DC are investigating an assault on two gay men in which anti-gay slurs and references to monkeypox were used as a hate crime.
- A California wastewater surveillance system used to track COVID-19 outbreaks has been adapted to track monkeypox as well.
- Italy begins its vaccination campaign against monkeypox.
- A daycare worker in Illinois tested positive for monkeypox, causing a scare about the potential exposure of children to the virus. None of the children were infected, but all were given the JYNNEOS vaccine, which is available to men who have sex with men (MSM) and close contacts of those who have been infected.
- The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says there were "early signs" that the monkeypox outbreak is plateauing across the country and that its expansion has slowed.
Week of July 29 to August 4: First deaths in Brazil, Ghana, India, and Spain; U.S. Declares Public Health Emergency; Philippines and Sudan Report First Cases
August 4- The United States declares monkeypox a public health emergency.
- Experts debate how to address stigma and the fact that monkeypox has so far primarily affected men who have sex with men (MSM) and members of the LGBTQ+ community and whether or not limiting one's sexual partners is a useful strategy for preventing the spread of the virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also noted that in Africa, where the disease is endemic, outbreaks are not concentrated in MSM communities and affect a wider segment of the population.
- New Zealand placed on waitlist for monkeypox vaccines.
- Japanese pharmaceutical company KM Biologics Co sees spike in interest in its monkeypox vaccine from other countries.
August 1
- World Health Organization (WHO) encounters difficulties in its efforts to rename monkeypox.
- India confirms its first monkeypox death in the state of Kerala.
- Ghana confirms its first monkeypox death.
- Sudan reports its first monkeypox case.
- Doctors and activists in Brazil and Mexico criticize their countries' slow response to the monkeypox outbreak.
- New York City declares monkeypox a public health emergency.
- Brazil and Spain report two monkeypox deaths, the first fatal cases in Europe.
- Philippines reports its first monkeypox case.
- Japan approves KM Biologics Co smallpox vaccine for the treatment of monkeypox
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June 23
Week of July 22 to July 28: WHO Declares Monkeypox a Global Health Emergency; Japan Reports First Case; EU Approves Bavarian Nordic Vaccine
July 28- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the release of 780,000 vaccines.
- WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus advised members of the men who have sex with men (MSM) community to limit their exposure to the virus by reducing their number of sex partners and reconsidering sex with new partners.
- Australia declares monkeypox a disease of national significance, which opens the door to a more coordinated response.
- Thai researchers examine wastewater to track monkeypox.
- France opens dedicated monkeypox vaccination center in Paris and has vaccinated more than 6,000 people nationwide.
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to designate monkeypox a nationally notifiable condition starting August 1, which updates criteria for reporting data on cases by states to the agency and would allow the agency to monitor and respond to monkeypox even after the current outbreak recedes.
- United States becomes country with the most recorded monkeypox cases, surpassing Spain, according to data from the CDC.
- Biden Administration floats $7 billion funding estimate to Congress to mount a response to the nation's monkeypox outbreak.
- Japan records first case and steps up preparations for an outbreak.
- European Union approves Bavarian Nordic vaccine for monkeypox.
- WHO warns that monkeypox could soon spread beyond MSM communities to other portions of the population.
- Gaps and delays in collecting data are hindering the response to monkeypox, according to the CDC.
- Experts are divided over predictions about how monkeypox will spread. Some fear that the virus will become entrenched like some other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) while others believe it can still be contained.
- Sexual health advocates in the United Kingdom call on Britain's National Health Service (NHS) to ramp up monkeypox vaccination.
- WHO declares monkeypox outbreak a global health emergency, a designation used to describe only two other diseases, COVID-19 and Polio. The decision is significant in part because WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus overruled a panel of advisers, who could not come to a consensus and also because it opens the door for a coordinated international response to fight the virus.
- CDC announces two cases of monkeypox in children in the United States.
Week of July 16 to July 21: WHO Emergency Committee Reconvenes; Thailand Reports First Case; Germany to Prioritize First Dose of Vaccine
July 21- WHO Emergency Committee reconvenes to discuss monkeypox and whether it constitutes a public health emergency as cases top 14,000.
- Germany's vaccine advisory instructs medical professionals to use all available monkeypox vaccines to prioritize first doses.
- Thailand reports first case.
- LGBTQ activists call on the United States for more attention and resources to be devoted to monkeypox.
- Experts suggest that the window to contain monkeypox may have closed and that it could become endemic in MSM communities.
- U.S. monkeypox patients report difficulty accessing pain and symptom relief for severe cases.
Week of July 9 to July 15: India, Russia, and Saudi Arabia Report First Cases; CDC Plans to Use Controversial Drug
July 15- India reports first case of monkeypox, marking the virus's spread to the South Asia region.
- U.S. health-care workers complain of daunting bureaucracy impeding treatment of monkeypox.
- CDC plans to use smallpox drug Tembexa to treat monkeypox, despite the drug's serious side effects.
- Saudi Arabia reports first case.
- A New York City government website to facilitate monkeypox vaccination crashes due to large demand.
- Russia reports first case of monkeypox.
- United Kingdom downgrades its classification of the monkeypox outbreak from "high consequence infectious disease" but intends to remain vigilant.
Week of July 2 to July 8: WHO Revisits Earlier Decision About Whether Monkeypox Constitutes a Public Health Emergency After Two Deaths in Africa; United States Expands Testing and Vaccination
July 8- Demand for Monkeypox Vaccines in United States outstrips supply.
- Biden Administration announces dissemination of 144,000 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine to combat spread of monkeypox
- World Health Organization (WHO) reconvenes the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee to discuss the spread of monkeypox, which earlier declined to label the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency.
- WHO records two confirmed deaths from monkeypox in Africa bringing the total of confirmed deaths from monkeypox in 2022 to three.
- It also reported that among cases with available data on gender, 99 percent were in men.
- The Dominican Republic records first case of monkeypox.
- U.S. company Labcorp begins offering monkeypox PCR tests in partnership with the CDC.
- Panama records first case of monkeypox.
Week of June 25 to July 1: United States Begins Vaccine Rollout as the WHO Determines Monkeypox is Not a Public Health Emergency
July 1- Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) treats monkeypox as a health emergency, even after the WHO declines to label the outbreak as such.
- The United States announces the purchase of 2.5 million JYNNEOS vaccines for monkeypox.
- WHO works to improve surveillance, testing, and genome sequencing of monkeypox in Africa.
- Turkey reports first case.
- Unusual spread of monkeypox puzzles researchers in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the disease is endemic and researchers have been studying it for decades.
- The Biden Administration announces the first phase of its national monkeypox vaccine strategy involving the dissemination of 56,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine of a planned 300,000 vaccines.
- Nigerian health authorities say monkeypox infections in Nigeria could reach a five-year high by the end of 2022.
- WHO records 3,413 laboratory-confirmed cases and one death from 50 countries and territories since the start of 2022.
- WHO Emergency Committee determines that monkeypox is not a public health emergency.
Week of June 18 to June 24: Monkeypox Cases Confirmed in East Asia; United States Expands Testing
June 24June 23
- CDC begins exploring whether the monkeypox vaccine is safe and advisable for use in children.
- Bulgaria reports first cases.
- Monkeypox cases confirmed in South Korea and Singapore.
- United States expands monkeypox testing capacity as outbreak grows.
- United Kingdom introduces policy to provide vaccine access to at-risk men in addition to health-care workers and close contacts of those who have contracted the virus.
- Lebanon reports first case.
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May 30
Week of June 11 to June 17: Wealthy Nations Begin Purchasing Vaccines for Monkeypox
June 17- WHO records a total of 2,103 laboratory-confirmed cases and one probable case, including one death, in 42 member states.
- Serbia and Chile report first cases.
- WHO Regional Director for Africa announces preparations to procure monkeypox vaccines for African countries.
- WHO announces the creation of a new vaccine-sharing mechanism to stop the outbreak of monkeypox.
- WHO expresses intention to rename monkeypox after scientists raise worries over stigmatization and convenes the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee to discuss the spread of monkeypox.
- European Union signs deal with Bavarian Nordic for 110,000 monkeypox vaccines.
Week of June 2 to June 9: Brazil, Ghana, and Morocco Report First Cases
June 10- WHO records 1,285 laboratory-confirmed cases and one probable case from 28 countries in which monkeypox is not endemic for monkeypox virus since May 13 after 2 cases were reported in Latvia.
- Poland confirms first case.
- United States purchases 500,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine as the CDC broadens the range of symptoms used to identify monkeypox.
- Brazil confirms first case.
- Ghana confirms first five cases.
- WHO records 780 laboratory-confirmed cases and zero deaths from 27 countries in which monkeypox is not endemic for monkeypox virus since May 13. New countries include Hungary, Ireland, Malta, and Norway.
- Morocco records first case.
Week of May 27 to June 1: Monkeypox Reaches Latin America; United Kingdom Issues Its First Monkeypox Vaccines; One Death in Nigeria
June 1- WHO report suggests that monkeypox may have been circulating undetected in non-endemic countries well before it was first officially recorded.
May 30
- Nigeria reports its first confirmed death from monkeypox. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced that in 2022 it has confirmed 21 out of 66 suspected cases of the disease.
- WHO records 257 laboratory-confirmed cases, 120 suspected cases, and zero deaths from 23 countries in which monkeypox is not endemic for monkeypox virus since May 13.
- Mexico records first case of monkeypox.
- Spanish LGBTQ advocates express fears about stigmatization of gay men due to monkeypox ahead of Pride events.
- Ireland preemptively secures order of monkeypox vaccines.
- United Kingdom vaccinates three people who had come in close contact with someone who had monkeypox.
Week of May 20 to May 26: Wealthy Nations Begin Exploring Testing and Vaccination Options as More Countries Report Cases and in Larger Numbers
May 26- Tanzanian health authorities issue guidance on monkeypox.
- Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) makes a statement warning against vaccine hoarding for monkeypox
- Denmark purchases 200 vaccines from the Netherlands with intention to buy 2,000-3,000 more.
- South African public health experts dismiss idea of mass vaccination campaign but say they will remain vigilant.
- Cases in France rise from 3 to 5.
- Roche Holding AG develops PCR test kits to identify monkeypox.
- Spain records 50 cases.
- Germany purchases 40,000 Bavarian Nordic monkeypox vaccines as a precautionary measure.
- Czechia, Slovenia, and the United Arab Emirates report first cases.
- French health authority recommends a targeted vaccination campaign to curtail monkeypox.
- European Union initiates talks with manufacturers for centralized vaccine purchase.
- WHO spokeswoman asserts that the monkeypox outbreak can still be contained.
- U.S. President Joe Biden says he did not believe a quarantine to prevent the spread of monkeypox in the United States would be necessary, and that there are sufficient vaccine doses available to combat any serious flare-up of the disease.
- WHO spokesperson says there is no evidence that monkeypox has mutated.
- Portugal reports an additional 14 cases, bringing the total to 37.
- Unsubstantiated conspiracy theories suggesting the United States is the culprit behind monkeypox begin to circulate on Chinese social media.
- Monkeypox fears fuel stock prices in companies that produce antivirals and vaccines.
- Belgium becomes first country to institute monkeypox quarantine.
- UNAIDS urges media outlets, governments, and communities to respond with a rights-based, evidence-based approach that avoids stigma.
- WHO records 92 laboratory-confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases from 12 countries in which monkeypox is not endemic for monkeypox virus in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States since May 13.
- Early epidemiology of initial cases notified to WHO by countries shows that cases have been mainly reported amongst men who have sex with men (MSM).
- Switzerland reports first case.
Week of May 12 to May 19: Monkeypox Cases Recorded in United Kingdom, Portugal, Italy, and Canada
May 19- Public health authorities in Canada begin investigating 17 suspected cases of monkeypox in Montreal. The first case in Canada is believed to have appeared on April 29 in a patient who had traveled from the United States.
- First draft genome sequence of Monkeypox virus associated with the suspected multicountry outbreak suggests the strain most closely resembles viruses carried by travelers from Nigeria to Singapore, Israel, and the United Kingdom in 2018 and 2019.
- Italy reports first confirmed case and two additional suspected cases.
- Portugal reports 14 cases and an additional 20 suspected cases after identifying them as the West African strain of monkeypox, which is less severe than the Congo strain.
- The United Kingdom reports two new cases of monkeypox that do not appear to be related to the first.
Week of May 7 to May 11: Monkeypox First Identified in a Non-Endemic Country
May 7- A patient is treated for monkeypox in the United Kingdom by a specialist after returning from travel in Nigeria.
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Maeve Cullinan GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY REPORTER
25 June 2024 • 3:20pm
The virus is behaving 'extremely' differently to clades 1 and 2 of mpox and does not require sexual contact to spread CREDIT: NIAID via AP
A new strain of monkeypox that causes miscarriage and has a fatality rate of up to 10 per cent is spreading rapidly in central Africa, a team of experts warned in a press briefing today.
There are fears the new virus – now officially called mpox – could quickly spread to Europe and beyond.
The mutant variant, clade 1b, is “undoubtedly the most dangerous strain of mpox yet,” stressed Prof Trudie Lang, the director of Global Health Network at Oxford University.
First identified in February in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the virus is behaving “extremely” differently to clades 1 and 2 of mpox – the latter of which exploded internationally in 2022, primarily amongst gay men.
The new strain of the virus does not require sexual contact to spread.
People queue for an mpox vaccination in London. Europe was at the centre of a huge outbreak of clade 2 mpox in 2022 CREDIT: Henry Nicholls/REUTERS
On a Zoom call with journalists on Tuesday, the researchers confirmed that clade 1b is spreading through touch, something which is “incredibly worrying,” according to Prof Lang.
It was spreading mother to child, as well as in schools and workplaces, they said.
Presentation of the diseases also differs markedly from previous stains.
The virus had caused an “alarming” number of miscarriages in young women, said the researchers, and the lesions and blistering it causes were spread across the entire body, rather than confined to the genital area.
The death rate was estimated at five and 10 per cent in adults and children respectively.
“It’s causing extreme danger in terms of disease severity,” said Leandre Murhula Masirika, who is leading the research on the new strain in the DRC.
Whole-body rashes, eye problems, and fever were common symptoms, he added.
Cases have been reported in DRC towns that border Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda.
Experts believe it is highly likely that the virus has already reached these neighbouring countries, although no cases have been officially reported anywhere other than the DRC.
Sex workers regularly travel between the DRC and its neighbours – an obvious route of transmission.
The city of Goma, which has a population of nearly one million, including tens of thousands of refugees, has an international airport which operates frequent direct flights to and from Europe.
The virus can cause a rash consisting of sores CREDIT: BRIAN W.J. MAHY/Centers for Disease Control/AFP via Getty Images
The health authorities in Goma announced a large outbreak of the new mpox strain on Monday.
When asked whether countries outside of Africa should prepare themselves for cases, John Claude Udahemuaka, a researcher at the University of Rwanda working on the ground in the DRC to tackle the outbreak, warned that “everyone should be prepared.”
“There are no controls on the borders and people with lesions can go outside the DRC and easily spread this infection,” he added.
So far, around 600 patients have been identified in Kamituga – the town where the mutant virus was first identified – although experts estimate the actual numbers are significantly higher due to the lack of comprehensive surveillance.
Overall, 7,850 mpox cases have been reported in DRC, and 384 deaths, according to the World Health Organization – although it is unclear how many are attributed to clade 1b.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. The cases are getting higher and higher every day, and it’s only a question of time before it spreads to other countries,” said Mr Masirika.
The smallpox vaccine – the routine rollout of which was halted in large parts of Africa in the 1980s – protects against mpox, but there is no guarantee that it will work against clade 1b, the experts said.
PCR tests designed to diagnose the disease also don’t work for the new strain – meaning thousands could be spreading the illness asymptotically, with no way of knowing whether or not they are infectious.
Experts have linked the new outbreak to a man who travelled from elsewhere in the DRC to Kamuitga, a small mining town just 170 miles from the Rwandan border. He is thought to have had intercourse with multiple sex workers, who then transmitted the virus further into the community.
However, the researchers still don’t understand why or how the mpox virus mutated and have added that question to the growing “list of unknowns” about this mutant strain.
The World Health Organisation, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and governments of the DRC and Rwanda are said to be in talks for securing vaccines to try and tackle the outbreak – although whether they will work is another question.
Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
New strain of monkeypox causes miscarriages and spreads rapidly without sexual contact, experts warn
The mutant variant, clade 1b, is described as ‘undoubtedly the most dangerous strain of mpox yet’Maeve Cullinan GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY REPORTER
25 June 2024 • 3:20pm
The virus is behaving 'extremely' differently to clades 1 and 2 of mpox and does not require sexual contact to spread CREDIT: NIAID via AP
A new strain of monkeypox that causes miscarriage and has a fatality rate of up to 10 per cent is spreading rapidly in central Africa, a team of experts warned in a press briefing today.
There are fears the new virus – now officially called mpox – could quickly spread to Europe and beyond.
The mutant variant, clade 1b, is “undoubtedly the most dangerous strain of mpox yet,” stressed Prof Trudie Lang, the director of Global Health Network at Oxford University.
First identified in February in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the virus is behaving “extremely” differently to clades 1 and 2 of mpox – the latter of which exploded internationally in 2022, primarily amongst gay men.
The new strain of the virus does not require sexual contact to spread.
People queue for an mpox vaccination in London. Europe was at the centre of a huge outbreak of clade 2 mpox in 2022 CREDIT: Henry Nicholls/REUTERS
On a Zoom call with journalists on Tuesday, the researchers confirmed that clade 1b is spreading through touch, something which is “incredibly worrying,” according to Prof Lang.
It was spreading mother to child, as well as in schools and workplaces, they said.
Presentation of the diseases also differs markedly from previous stains.
The virus had caused an “alarming” number of miscarriages in young women, said the researchers, and the lesions and blistering it causes were spread across the entire body, rather than confined to the genital area.
The death rate was estimated at five and 10 per cent in adults and children respectively.
“It’s causing extreme danger in terms of disease severity,” said Leandre Murhula Masirika, who is leading the research on the new strain in the DRC.
Whole-body rashes, eye problems, and fever were common symptoms, he added.
‘The tip of the iceberg’
The virus appears to be spreading fast. The researchers believe it has already jumped borders in Africa and there are fears – that like Clade 2 – it could spread around the globe.Cases have been reported in DRC towns that border Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda.
Experts believe it is highly likely that the virus has already reached these neighbouring countries, although no cases have been officially reported anywhere other than the DRC.
Sex workers regularly travel between the DRC and its neighbours – an obvious route of transmission.
The city of Goma, which has a population of nearly one million, including tens of thousands of refugees, has an international airport which operates frequent direct flights to and from Europe.
The virus can cause a rash consisting of sores CREDIT: BRIAN W.J. MAHY/Centers for Disease Control/AFP via Getty Images
The health authorities in Goma announced a large outbreak of the new mpox strain on Monday.
When asked whether countries outside of Africa should prepare themselves for cases, John Claude Udahemuaka, a researcher at the University of Rwanda working on the ground in the DRC to tackle the outbreak, warned that “everyone should be prepared.”
“There are no controls on the borders and people with lesions can go outside the DRC and easily spread this infection,” he added.
So far, around 600 patients have been identified in Kamituga – the town where the mutant virus was first identified – although experts estimate the actual numbers are significantly higher due to the lack of comprehensive surveillance.
Overall, 7,850 mpox cases have been reported in DRC, and 384 deaths, according to the World Health Organization – although it is unclear how many are attributed to clade 1b.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. The cases are getting higher and higher every day, and it’s only a question of time before it spreads to other countries,” said Mr Masirika.
The smallpox vaccine – the routine rollout of which was halted in large parts of Africa in the 1980s – protects against mpox, but there is no guarantee that it will work against clade 1b, the experts said.
PCR tests designed to diagnose the disease also don’t work for the new strain – meaning thousands could be spreading the illness asymptotically, with no way of knowing whether or not they are infectious.
Experts have linked the new outbreak to a man who travelled from elsewhere in the DRC to Kamuitga, a small mining town just 170 miles from the Rwandan border. He is thought to have had intercourse with multiple sex workers, who then transmitted the virus further into the community.
However, the researchers still don’t understand why or how the mpox virus mutated and have added that question to the growing “list of unknowns” about this mutant strain.
The World Health Organisation, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and governments of the DRC and Rwanda are said to be in talks for securing vaccines to try and tackle the outbreak – although whether they will work is another question.
Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
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Illustration of monkeypox or mpox virus | (Photo : Image by Samuel F. Johanns from Pixabay)
A team of experts has issued a warning about a newly identified and highly dangerous strain of mpox, formerly called monkeypox, which is swiftly spreading throughout Central Africa. The mutant variant, known as clade 1b, has alarmed health professionals with its potential to escalate into a global health crisis.
Professor Trudie Lang, director of the Global Health Network at Oxford University, said that the mutant variant known as clade 1b is "undoubtedly the most dangerous strain of mpox yet."
First detected in February in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), clade 1b of the virus behaves markedly differently from its predecessors, clades 1 and 2, which gained international attention primarily among gay men in 2022. Unlike previous strains, this variant does not necessitate sexual contact for transmission.
In a virtual briefing on Tuesday, researchers confirmed that clade 1b spreads through direct physical contact, a development described as "incredibly concerning" by Prof. Lang. Transmission routes now include mother-to-child transmission, as well as occurrences in educational institutions and workplaces.
"It's causing extreme danger in terms of disease severity," rsaid Leandre Murhula Masirika, leading the research efforts in the DRC.
According to the Telegraph, the virus has already spread beyond the DRC's borders into neighboring African countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, with concerns mounting over its potential global dissemination akin to clade 2 of the virus.
Responding to queries about international readiness, John Claude Udahemuaka, a researcher at the University of Rwanda, noted the need for global preparedness.
"There are no controls on the borders and people with lesions can go outside the DRC and easily spread this infection," he warned.
The origins of the mutation remain unclear, although initial reports link the outbreak to a traveler from another region of the DRC who interacted with multiple sex workers in Kamituga, where the virus was first identified.
Thanks, Helen, I THINK!!
NEWS
Experts Sound Alarm Over More Dangerous Mpox Strain That Spreads Sans Sexual Contact
By Corazon Victorino | Update Date: Jun 27, 2024 09:59 PM EDT
Illustration of monkeypox or mpox virus | (Photo : Image by Samuel F. Johanns from Pixabay)
A team of experts has issued a warning about a newly identified and highly dangerous strain of mpox, formerly called monkeypox, which is swiftly spreading throughout Central Africa. The mutant variant, known as clade 1b, has alarmed health professionals with its potential to escalate into a global health crisis.
Professor Trudie Lang, director of the Global Health Network at Oxford University, said that the mutant variant known as clade 1b is "undoubtedly the most dangerous strain of mpox yet."
First detected in February in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), clade 1b of the virus behaves markedly differently from its predecessors, clades 1 and 2, which gained international attention primarily among gay men in 2022. Unlike previous strains, this variant does not necessitate sexual contact for transmission.
In a virtual briefing on Tuesday, researchers confirmed that clade 1b spreads through direct physical contact, a development described as "incredibly concerning" by Prof. Lang. Transmission routes now include mother-to-child transmission, as well as occurrences in educational institutions and workplaces.
The clinical presentation of the disease is also distinct from earlier strains, causing widespread blistering and lesions across the body, rather than being localized to the genital area. Reports indicate an alarming incidence of miscarriages among young women and an estimated fatality rate of 5 to 10 percent among adults and children."It's causing extreme danger in terms of disease severity," rsaid Leandre Murhula Masirika, leading the research efforts in the DRC.
According to the Telegraph, the virus has already spread beyond the DRC's borders into neighboring African countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, with concerns mounting over its potential global dissemination akin to clade 2 of the virus.
Although cases have been reported predominantly in the DRC, experts caution that porous borders and population movement, including among sex workers, heighten the risk of further spread. The city of Goma, a hub with extensive international connections, has already reported a significant outbreak.Responding to queries about international readiness, John Claude Udahemuaka, a researcher at the University of Rwanda, noted the need for global preparedness.
"There are no controls on the borders and people with lesions can go outside the DRC and easily spread this infection," he warned.
Current efforts to contain the outbreak include discussions among the World Health Organization, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and governments of affected countries to secure vaccines. However, uncertainties persist regarding the effectiveness of existing smallpox vaccines against clade 1b.The origins of the mutation remain unclear, although initial reports link the outbreak to a traveler from another region of the DRC who interacted with multiple sex workers in Kamituga, where the virus was first identified.
Thanks, Helen, I THINK!!
psychgirl
TB Fanatic
Thank you.
I’m at work and couldn’t get these posted until this evening.
Scary stuff.
I wonder how long before it is reported in the US?
It’ll be either this, or H5N1
Plenty of time before the election for them to choose which one to drop
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night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
My money is on dengue for the election. THAT one scares me.
Monkeypox
The third case had some eye symptoms, but also mild respiratory illness. We do know that H5N1 more broadly can cause more severe illness, sometimes relatively mild, with a flu-like illness, with cough, body ache and fever. There's also the possibility of abdominal pain, and vomiting, and diarrhea.
Dengue fever can have many warning signs, including:
Monkeypox
- Fever.
- Headache.
- Muscle aches and backache.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Chills.
- Exhaustion.
- A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.
The third case had some eye symptoms, but also mild respiratory illness. We do know that H5N1 more broadly can cause more severe illness, sometimes relatively mild, with a flu-like illness, with cough, body ache and fever. There's also the possibility of abdominal pain, and vomiting, and diarrhea.
Dengue fever can have many warning signs, including:
- Fever: A high fever, often abrupt, that can reach 104°F (40°C)
- Headache: A severe frontal headache
- Eye pain: Pain behind the eyes that worsens when moving them
- Aches and pains: Muscle and joint pain, or bone pain
- Rash: A measles-like rash on the chest and upper limbs
- Nausea and vomiting: Persistent vomiting
- Other symptoms: Loss of appetite and sense of taste, swollen glands, abdominal pain or tenderness, clinical fluid accumulation, mucosal bleeding, lethargy or restlessness, and liver enlargement
night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
And MPOX, here is a Ytube dating back to 10 years ago covering the experience.
Caution might be recommended.
What it's like, from survivors. Ten years ago.
RT=13:40
Caution might be recommended.
What it's like, from survivors. Ten years ago.
RT=13:40
helen
Panic Sex Lady
From the timeline above:
May 23, 2022
Dengue has a measles-like rash, and monkeypox has been mistaken for chickenpox. H5N1 can present with conjunctivitis, and so can monkeypox. All three cause fever and body aches, just like flu.
The U.S. has an outbreak of Dengue currently and H5N1 is projected to be a pandemic-like illness.
I can't get a primary care appointment in less than three months in my area. 12-hour emergency room waits with cardiac symptoms are standard here.
I hope I'm clear enough.
May 23, 2022
- U.S. President Joe Biden says he did not believe a quarantine to prevent the spread of monkeypox in the United States would be necessary, and that there are sufficient vaccine doses available to combat any serious flare-up of the disease.
Dengue has a measles-like rash, and monkeypox has been mistaken for chickenpox. H5N1 can present with conjunctivitis, and so can monkeypox. All three cause fever and body aches, just like flu.
The U.S. has an outbreak of Dengue currently and H5N1 is projected to be a pandemic-like illness.
I can't get a primary care appointment in less than three months in my area. 12-hour emergency room waits with cardiac symptoms are standard here.
I hope I'm clear enough.
psychgirl
TB Fanatic
The system will crash within a few weeks of a serious outbreak of any of those.
Even from a “suspected” outbreak.
It will crash
helen
Panic Sex Lady
Cha-ching
Bavarian Nordic expects Jynneos to be fully effective against new mpox variant
medwatch.com
The share price of Danish vaccine company Bavarian Nordic soared on Wednesday after the World Health Organization (WHO) and scientists called for urgent action against a more contagious and deadly variant of mpox on Tuesday.
Bavarian Nordic is the only company with an approved vaccine against mpox, Jynneos, which the company also benefited from back in 2022 when other variants of mpox were rampant, spreading from Africa to a number of Western countries.
As has been the case with previous variants, Bavarian Nordic expects its vaccine to cover the new variant as well.
”We expect our vaccine to be fully effective against Clade 1b, which is the latest variant we are talking about here. Our vaccine technology covers the entire virus, so we have no idea that it would not cover the new variant,” says Head of Investor Relations Rolf Sass Sørensen.
”There is a critical need to address the recent increase in mpox cases in Africa,” Rosamund Lewis, WHO technical lead for mpox, said in a briefing to journalists on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Back in 2022, it was the Clade 2 variant that was rampant. After that, there was a variant 2b - and Clade 1 has also been circulating for some time.
”Now there is a variant called 1b. This is nothing new. There have been outbreaks in Africa of Clade 1 and also 1b for a while, and we always thought it was underreported. Then there was a journalist briefing on Tuesday, which resulted in some articles that attracted a lot of attention,” says Sørensen.
The attention has also resonated on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, where Bavarian Nordic’s share price ended the day 14% higher at DKK 177.55 at 15:15 CET.
The price reaction suggests that investors see opportunities for Bavarian Nordic to win some new contracts for the supply of Jynneos, as was the case in 2022.
How likely do you think that is?
”We don’t have any speculations about that. But it’s obvious that an epidemic that is not managed increases the risk of spread, and if you have a disease that is seen as so dangerous that spreads to the Western world, then the Western world will go crazy.”
”It may well be that Africa has a slightly different approach because they are affected by so many dangerous things like war and other deadly diseases, but if it hits Copenhagen, New York or elsewhere, some countries will react,” says Sørensen.
”In our forecast for the business area in which mpox is located, we have guided revenue in 2024 of DKK 2.7-3.0bn [USD 387-430m, ed.-], and we have started the year with signed contracts of DKK 1.6bn [USD 229m, ed.-]. This has led investors and analysts to ask, what about the rest- well, these are the dialogues we have with different countries about contracts. These are dialogs that go back and forth,” says Sørensen.
English edit: Catherine Brett
medwatch.com
Bavarian Nordic expects Jynneos to be fully effective against new mpox variant
medwatch.com
The share price of Danish vaccine company Bavarian Nordic soared on Wednesday after the World Health Organization (WHO) and scientists called for urgent action against a more contagious and deadly variant of mpox on Tuesday.
Bavarian Nordic is the only company with an approved vaccine against mpox, Jynneos, which the company also benefited from back in 2022 when other variants of mpox were rampant, spreading from Africa to a number of Western countries.
As has been the case with previous variants, Bavarian Nordic expects its vaccine to cover the new variant as well.
”We expect our vaccine to be fully effective against Clade 1b, which is the latest variant we are talking about here. Our vaccine technology covers the entire virus, so we have no idea that it would not cover the new variant,” says Head of Investor Relations Rolf Sass Sørensen.
Outbreaks have been underreported
The outbreak of the new variant is not new, but according to Bavarian Nordic, it has been underreported by the authorities, a situation that changed on Tuesday when the WHO and researchers issued strong calls to action.”There is a critical need to address the recent increase in mpox cases in Africa,” Rosamund Lewis, WHO technical lead for mpox, said in a briefing to journalists on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
Back in 2022, it was the Clade 2 variant that was rampant. After that, there was a variant 2b - and Clade 1 has also been circulating for some time.
”Now there is a variant called 1b. This is nothing new. There have been outbreaks in Africa of Clade 1 and also 1b for a while, and we always thought it was underreported. Then there was a journalist briefing on Tuesday, which resulted in some articles that attracted a lot of attention,” says Sørensen.
The attention has also resonated on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, where Bavarian Nordic’s share price ended the day 14% higher at DKK 177.55 at 15:15 CET.
The price reaction suggests that investors see opportunities for Bavarian Nordic to win some new contracts for the supply of Jynneos, as was the case in 2022.
How likely do you think that is?
”We don’t have any speculations about that. But it’s obvious that an epidemic that is not managed increases the risk of spread, and if you have a disease that is seen as so dangerous that spreads to the Western world, then the Western world will go crazy.”
”It may well be that Africa has a slightly different approach because they are affected by so many dangerous things like war and other deadly diseases, but if it hits Copenhagen, New York or elsewhere, some countries will react,” says Sørensen.
In dialog with Western countries
He also emphasizes that the company has communicated several times that it is in dialogue with Western countries about MPox vaccines.”In our forecast for the business area in which mpox is located, we have guided revenue in 2024 of DKK 2.7-3.0bn [USD 387-430m, ed.-], and we have started the year with signed contracts of DKK 1.6bn [USD 229m, ed.-]. This has led investors and analysts to ask, what about the rest- well, these are the dialogues we have with different countries about contracts. These are dialogs that go back and forth,” says Sørensen.
English edit: Catherine Brett
Bavarian Nordic expects Jynneos to be fully effective against new mpox variant
Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine Jynneos is the only approved vaccine against the disease mpox.
helen
Panic Sex Lady
Quickie research- Jynneos is cultured from chicken embryos. H5N1- induced shortages, anyone?
They have developed mRNA type mpox vaccine(s), because there isn't enough Jynneos to go around.
ACAM2000 (?) was licensed in 2007. It's the old style scratch and prick like we had as kids. Most of us are very old farts indeed. Not enough is stockpiled to go around.
They have developed mRNA type mpox vaccine(s), because there isn't enough Jynneos to go around.
ACAM2000 (?) was licensed in 2007. It's the old style scratch and prick like we had as kids. Most of us are very old farts indeed. Not enough is stockpiled to go around.
Last edited:
helen
Panic Sex Lady
I bore the shit out you guys with this stuff. I posted a lot on this company. Short version:
In 2017 some students at University of Toronto bought DNA bits out of catalogs and created a chimera "horsepox". They were the subject of urgent debate on the potential rise of terrorist bio-attacks.
The students sold the patented chimera to Tonix Pharmaceuticals, based in Canada but later developing facilities in ... Massachusetts and Montana.
The chimera horsepox became a vaccine "platform" for lots of drugs. FDA rules allow any treatment used before the FDA existed to skip a lot of steps in the approval process for new drugs or vaccines.
Literature worldwide used to say Edward Jenner vaccinated against smallpox with COWPOX, VACCINIA, LATIN FOR COW. Since 2017, the narrative has changed. Now they think Jenner was really using horsepox, even though the man himself was dragging sick COWS around to source his vaccine. Also milkmaids at the time were milking COWS and not horses, and they were immune to smallpox.
So Jenner was really using horsepox, they said, and supposedly there is not one iota of original horsepox left in all the world. There is only a chimera horsepox originating in a lab with college students. Tonix used the chimera horsepox platform to invoke the FDA rule that allowed them to skip steps in the approval process for nearly everything they developed.
Caught up now?
In 2017 some students at University of Toronto bought DNA bits out of catalogs and created a chimera "horsepox". They were the subject of urgent debate on the potential rise of terrorist bio-attacks.
The students sold the patented chimera to Tonix Pharmaceuticals, based in Canada but later developing facilities in ... Massachusetts and Montana.
The chimera horsepox became a vaccine "platform" for lots of drugs. FDA rules allow any treatment used before the FDA existed to skip a lot of steps in the approval process for new drugs or vaccines.
Literature worldwide used to say Edward Jenner vaccinated against smallpox with COWPOX, VACCINIA, LATIN FOR COW. Since 2017, the narrative has changed. Now they think Jenner was really using horsepox, even though the man himself was dragging sick COWS around to source his vaccine. Also milkmaids at the time were milking COWS and not horses, and they were immune to smallpox.
So Jenner was really using horsepox, they said, and supposedly there is not one iota of original horsepox left in all the world. There is only a chimera horsepox originating in a lab with college students. Tonix used the chimera horsepox platform to invoke the FDA rule that allowed them to skip steps in the approval process for nearly everything they developed.
Caught up now?
helen
Panic Sex Lady
Four days ago...oh, look NIH...
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Presents Vaccine Platform Data in Keynote Talk at the Vaccine Congress 2024 :: Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (TNXP)
ir.tonixpharma.com
Tonix’s live virus vaccine TNX-801 is designed to provide long-term protection from mpox and smallpox with one dose
TNX-801 vaccination demonstrated efficacy in protecting animals from lethal challenge with intratracheal monkeypox
Clade II mpox is now endemic in the U.S. with >30,000 cases reported since May 20221 and Clade I mpox is endemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo2
Tonix’s vaccine platform has been selected by NIH’s Project NextGen for clinical testing
CHATHAM, N.J., June 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the Company), a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company with marketed products and a pipeline of development candidates, today announced data presented at an oral Keynote Talk at the Vaccine Congress 2024 held June 24-25, 2024 in Prague, Czech Republic. A copy of the Company’s presentation is available under the Scientific Presentations tab of the Tonix website at www.tonixpharma.com.
The presentation titled, “A New Live Virus, One Dose Vaccine Platform for Mpox, Smallpox and COVID-19”, detailed the Company’s vaccine platform, including TNX-801 (horsepox, live virus) vaccine for preventing mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) and smallpox and TNX-1800 (horsepox expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein) for protecting against COVID-19. TNX-801 and TNX-1800 are live replicating attenuated vaccines based on horsepox that are believed to provide immune protection with better tolerability than modern vaccinia viruses.
In the presentation, Tonix highlighted positive preclinical efficacy data, demonstrating that TNX-801 protected non-human primates against lethal challenge with intratracheal Clade 1 monkeypox virus3. After a single dose vaccination, TNX-801 prevented clinical disease and lesions and also decreased shedding in the mouth and lungs of non-human primates. These findings are consistent with mucosal immunity and suggest the ability to block forward transmission, similar to Dr. Edward Jenner’s vaccinia vaccine, which eradicated smallpox and kept mpox out of the human population.
“We are excited for the prospects of our live virus vaccine platform and look forward to advancing development for our vaccine candidates to prevent mpox, smallpox, COVID and other infectious diseases,” said Seth Lederman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tonix.
“TNX-801 combines immune protection with improved tolerability compared to other vaccines based on orthopoxviruses. TNX-801 is administered with a single dose which has advantages over two-dose regimens. We believe TNX-801 can be rapidly scaled up for manufacturing and can be distributed and stored without a costly and cumbersome ultra-cold supply chain. Tonix developed TNX-1800 as a vaccine to protect against COVID-19. We are excited that TNX-1800 was selected for the U.S. National Institute of Health’s (NIH’s) Project NextGen and we look forward to providing updates on the program.”
The presentation noted that the global mpox outbreak, which commenced in 2022, has affected over 90,000 persons in countries where mpox had previously not been endemic, including Europe and the US. The spread of Clade IIb strain mpox in 2022 underscores the pandemic potential of mpox. Unlike Clade IIb mpox, the Clade I strain of mpox remains restricted to several Central African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it is currently endemic. Clade I mpox is typically associated with higher case fatality rates than Clade IIb mpox. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other experts, there is a significant risk that the deadlier Clade I strain may appear in the U.S.1,4.
Further, the presentation noted that the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense recently highlighted the renewed dual threats of both a more virulent mpox epidemic as well as smallpox re-introduction from lab accidents or bad actors, while the National Academies of Science, in its review of smallpox preparedness, highlighted the need for new single dose vaccines against smallpox5,6.
The keynote presentation also included preclinical data for TNX-1800, demonstrating immunity and tolerability7,8. TNX-1800 was selected by the NIH’s Project NextGen for inclusion in clinical trials as part of a select group of next generation COVID-19 vaccine candidates with the intent to identify promising vaccine platforms. NIH plans to conduct a Phase 1 trial and cover the full cost, while Tonix provides the vaccine candidate.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.*
Tonix is a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on developing, licensing and commercializing therapeutics to treat and prevent human disease and alleviate suffering. Tonix’s development portfolio is focused on central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Tonix’s priority is to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA in the second half of 2024 for Tonmya**, a product candidate for which two statistically significant Phase 3 studies have been completed for the management of fibromyalgia. TNX-102 SL is also being developed to treat acute stress reaction as well as fibromyalgia-type Long COVID. Tonix’s CNS portfolio includes TNX-1300 (cocaine esterase), a biologic designed to treat cocaine intoxication that has Breakthrough Therapy designation. Tonix’s immunology development portfolio consists of biologics to address organ transplant rejection, autoimmunity and cancer, including TNX-1500, which is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD40-ligand (CD40L or CD154) being developed for the prevention of allograft rejection and for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Tonix also has product candidates in development in the areas of rare disease and infectious disease. Tonix Medicines, our commercial subsidiary, markets Zembrace® SymTouch® (sumatriptan injection) 3 mg and Tosymra® (sumatriptan nasal spray) 10 mg for the treatment of acute migraine with or without aura in adults.
*Tonix’s product development candidates are investigational new drugs or biologics and have not been approved for any indication.
**Tonmya™ is conditionally accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the tradename for TNX-102 SL for the management of fibromyalgia. Tonmya has not been approved for any indication.
1McQuiston JH, et al. U.S. Preparedness and Response to Increasing Clade I Mpox Cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2024, MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep: United States. p. 435-440
2CDC. 2022-2023 Mpox: US Map and Case Count. 2022 U.S. Map & Case Count | Mpox | Poxvirus | CDC
3Noyce RS, et al. Viruses. 2023 Jan 26;15(2):356. doi: 10.3390/v15020356. PMID: 36851570; PMCID: PMC9965234
4World Health OrganizationSAGE meeting highlights on updated mpox vaccine recommendations. 2024, March
5Bipartisan Commission on Biofence. Box the Pox: Redicing the risk of Smallpox and Other Orthopoxviruses, Washington:2024
6U.S. National Academies of Science. Future State of Smallpox Medical Countermeasures. Washington:2024
7Awasthi M, et al. Viruses. 2023 Oct 21;15(10):2131. doi: 10.3390/v15102131. PMID: 37896908; PMCID: PMC10612059.
8Awashti AM et al Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Nov 2;11(11):1682. doi:10.3390/vaccines11111682.PMID: 38006014
Zembrace SymTouch and Tosymra are registered trademarks of Tonix Medicines. All other marks are property of their respective owners.
This press release and further information about Tonix can be found at www.tonixpharma.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend,” among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Tonix's current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to the failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations; risks related to the failure to successfully market any of our products; risks related to the timing and progress of clinical development of our product candidates; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; uncertainties of government or third party payor reimbursement; limited research and development efforts and dependence upon third parties; and substantial competition. As with any pharmaceutical under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new products. Tonix does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 1, 2024, and periodic reports filed with the SEC on or after the date thereof. All of Tonix's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date thereof.
Investor Contact
Jessica Morris
Tonix Pharmaceuticals
investor.relations@tonixpharma.com
(862) 904-8182
Peter Vozzo
ICR Westwicke
peter.vozzo@westwicke.com
(443) 213-0505
Media Contact
Katie Dodge
LaVoieHealthScience
kdodge@lavoiehealthscience.comhttps://www.globenewswire.com/Track...WYn5clEfsNTFi9y_d8NNO_HoOsIP4R3I6fecZxZ9z4A==
(978) 360-3151
Source: Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.
Released June 25, 2024
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Presents Vaccine Platform Data in Keynote Talk at the Vaccine Congress 2024 :: Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (TNXP)
ir.tonixpharma.com
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Presents Vaccine Platform Data in Keynote Talk at the Vaccine Congress 2024
June 25, 2024 8:00am EDT Download as PDFTonix’s live virus vaccine TNX-801 is designed to provide long-term protection from mpox and smallpox with one dose
TNX-801 vaccination demonstrated efficacy in protecting animals from lethal challenge with intratracheal monkeypox
Clade II mpox is now endemic in the U.S. with >30,000 cases reported since May 20221 and Clade I mpox is endemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo2
Tonix’s vaccine platform has been selected by NIH’s Project NextGen for clinical testing
CHATHAM, N.J., June 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the Company), a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company with marketed products and a pipeline of development candidates, today announced data presented at an oral Keynote Talk at the Vaccine Congress 2024 held June 24-25, 2024 in Prague, Czech Republic. A copy of the Company’s presentation is available under the Scientific Presentations tab of the Tonix website at www.tonixpharma.com.
The presentation titled, “A New Live Virus, One Dose Vaccine Platform for Mpox, Smallpox and COVID-19”, detailed the Company’s vaccine platform, including TNX-801 (horsepox, live virus) vaccine for preventing mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) and smallpox and TNX-1800 (horsepox expressing SARS-CoV-2 spike protein) for protecting against COVID-19. TNX-801 and TNX-1800 are live replicating attenuated vaccines based on horsepox that are believed to provide immune protection with better tolerability than modern vaccinia viruses.
In the presentation, Tonix highlighted positive preclinical efficacy data, demonstrating that TNX-801 protected non-human primates against lethal challenge with intratracheal Clade 1 monkeypox virus3. After a single dose vaccination, TNX-801 prevented clinical disease and lesions and also decreased shedding in the mouth and lungs of non-human primates. These findings are consistent with mucosal immunity and suggest the ability to block forward transmission, similar to Dr. Edward Jenner’s vaccinia vaccine, which eradicated smallpox and kept mpox out of the human population.
“We are excited for the prospects of our live virus vaccine platform and look forward to advancing development for our vaccine candidates to prevent mpox, smallpox, COVID and other infectious diseases,” said Seth Lederman, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Tonix.
“TNX-801 combines immune protection with improved tolerability compared to other vaccines based on orthopoxviruses. TNX-801 is administered with a single dose which has advantages over two-dose regimens. We believe TNX-801 can be rapidly scaled up for manufacturing and can be distributed and stored without a costly and cumbersome ultra-cold supply chain. Tonix developed TNX-1800 as a vaccine to protect against COVID-19. We are excited that TNX-1800 was selected for the U.S. National Institute of Health’s (NIH’s) Project NextGen and we look forward to providing updates on the program.”
The presentation noted that the global mpox outbreak, which commenced in 2022, has affected over 90,000 persons in countries where mpox had previously not been endemic, including Europe and the US. The spread of Clade IIb strain mpox in 2022 underscores the pandemic potential of mpox. Unlike Clade IIb mpox, the Clade I strain of mpox remains restricted to several Central African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it is currently endemic. Clade I mpox is typically associated with higher case fatality rates than Clade IIb mpox. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other experts, there is a significant risk that the deadlier Clade I strain may appear in the U.S.1,4.
Further, the presentation noted that the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense recently highlighted the renewed dual threats of both a more virulent mpox epidemic as well as smallpox re-introduction from lab accidents or bad actors, while the National Academies of Science, in its review of smallpox preparedness, highlighted the need for new single dose vaccines against smallpox5,6.
The keynote presentation also included preclinical data for TNX-1800, demonstrating immunity and tolerability7,8. TNX-1800 was selected by the NIH’s Project NextGen for inclusion in clinical trials as part of a select group of next generation COVID-19 vaccine candidates with the intent to identify promising vaccine platforms. NIH plans to conduct a Phase 1 trial and cover the full cost, while Tonix provides the vaccine candidate.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp.*
Tonix is a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on developing, licensing and commercializing therapeutics to treat and prevent human disease and alleviate suffering. Tonix’s development portfolio is focused on central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Tonix’s priority is to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA in the second half of 2024 for Tonmya**, a product candidate for which two statistically significant Phase 3 studies have been completed for the management of fibromyalgia. TNX-102 SL is also being developed to treat acute stress reaction as well as fibromyalgia-type Long COVID. Tonix’s CNS portfolio includes TNX-1300 (cocaine esterase), a biologic designed to treat cocaine intoxication that has Breakthrough Therapy designation. Tonix’s immunology development portfolio consists of biologics to address organ transplant rejection, autoimmunity and cancer, including TNX-1500, which is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD40-ligand (CD40L or CD154) being developed for the prevention of allograft rejection and for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Tonix also has product candidates in development in the areas of rare disease and infectious disease. Tonix Medicines, our commercial subsidiary, markets Zembrace® SymTouch® (sumatriptan injection) 3 mg and Tosymra® (sumatriptan nasal spray) 10 mg for the treatment of acute migraine with or without aura in adults.
*Tonix’s product development candidates are investigational new drugs or biologics and have not been approved for any indication.
**Tonmya™ is conditionally accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the tradename for TNX-102 SL for the management of fibromyalgia. Tonmya has not been approved for any indication.
1McQuiston JH, et al. U.S. Preparedness and Response to Increasing Clade I Mpox Cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 2024, MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep: United States. p. 435-440
2CDC. 2022-2023 Mpox: US Map and Case Count. 2022 U.S. Map & Case Count | Mpox | Poxvirus | CDC
3Noyce RS, et al. Viruses. 2023 Jan 26;15(2):356. doi: 10.3390/v15020356. PMID: 36851570; PMCID: PMC9965234
4World Health OrganizationSAGE meeting highlights on updated mpox vaccine recommendations. 2024, March
5Bipartisan Commission on Biofence. Box the Pox: Redicing the risk of Smallpox and Other Orthopoxviruses, Washington:2024
6U.S. National Academies of Science. Future State of Smallpox Medical Countermeasures. Washington:2024
7Awasthi M, et al. Viruses. 2023 Oct 21;15(10):2131. doi: 10.3390/v15102131. PMID: 37896908; PMCID: PMC10612059.
8Awashti AM et al Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Nov 2;11(11):1682. doi:10.3390/vaccines11111682.PMID: 38006014
Zembrace SymTouch and Tosymra are registered trademarks of Tonix Medicines. All other marks are property of their respective owners.
This press release and further information about Tonix can be found at www.tonixpharma.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend,” among others. These forward-looking statements are based on Tonix's current expectations and actual results could differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to the failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance with FDA regulations; risks related to the failure to successfully market any of our products; risks related to the timing and progress of clinical development of our product candidates; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of patent protection and litigation; uncertainties of government or third party payor reimbursement; limited research and development efforts and dependence upon third parties; and substantial competition. As with any pharmaceutical under development, there are significant risks in the development, regulatory approval and commercialization of new products. Tonix does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Investors should read the risk factors set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 1, 2024, and periodic reports filed with the SEC on or after the date thereof. All of Tonix's forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by all such risk factors and other cautionary statements. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date thereof.
Investor Contact
Jessica Morris
Tonix Pharmaceuticals
investor.relations@tonixpharma.com
(862) 904-8182
Peter Vozzo
ICR Westwicke
peter.vozzo@westwicke.com
(443) 213-0505
Media Contact
Katie Dodge
LaVoieHealthScience
kdodge@lavoiehealthscience.comhttps://www.globenewswire.com/Track...WYn5clEfsNTFi9y_d8NNO_HoOsIP4R3I6fecZxZ9z4A==
(978) 360-3151
Released June 25, 2024
Last edited:
phloydius
Veteran Member
You don't bore me on these topics. I read these carefully, and then google search for more information if I have questions.
Thank you for posting them.
helen
Panic Sex Lady
2022, January. Monkey clade 2 epidemic started. By May 2022 it had spread all over the world. Biden declined to quarantine.
Four months from oh-shit to worldwide spread.
Clade 1b oh-shit moment officially happened June 2024. Four months from now is late October to early November. This time they clearly say it's spreading faster and not as an STD.
South African conspiracy theory there says it's been seeded to interrupt the elections.
South Africa has 16 cases and 3 deaths so far, and almost 25% of known patients are dead. They have not named the clade.
Four months from oh-shit to worldwide spread.
Clade 1b oh-shit moment officially happened June 2024. Four months from now is late October to early November. This time they clearly say it's spreading faster and not as an STD.
South African conspiracy theory there says it's been seeded to interrupt the elections.
South Africa has 16 cases and 3 deaths so far, and almost 25% of known patients are dead. They have not named the clade.
Seeker22
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Hoping Helen reads this:
You are my go to source for all biowarfare badness. You earned that through a level head and more knowledge about these subjects than I could ever hope to gain. Your posts are much appreciated.
They often invoke fascinated horror, but never boredom.
helen
Panic Sex Lady
Thank you.
Tristan
TB Fanatic
Not bored.
I'm a fast reader, and still can't possibly keep up. Even trying to be selective in what I'm reading, it still feels like this sometimes:
So, what I get from the info you posted was basically, the FDA ain't necessarily on our side?
Hmm, Incompetence, or Perfidy? Incompetence or Perfidy?
helen
Panic Sex Lady
Monkeypox should have initiated the highest level of smallpox containment in this country. It was taken very seriously a few years before 2022, when it came off an international flight in Texas.
Not only was it mismanaged from a community health viewpoint in 2022, it was - pardon the pun - coupled with politically woke bullshit. Because the largest vector demographic happened to be homosexual males, it was nearly a hate crime to mention the need to isolate them.
Accident? I don't believe in accidents any more. We've been conditioned to accept behaviors that spread a dreadful disease. Now the stage is set to loose a real scourge on us all.
Not only was it mismanaged from a community health viewpoint in 2022, it was - pardon the pun - coupled with politically woke bullshit. Because the largest vector demographic happened to be homosexual males, it was nearly a hate crime to mention the need to isolate them.
Accident? I don't believe in accidents any more. We've been conditioned to accept behaviors that spread a dreadful disease. Now the stage is set to loose a real scourge on us all.
Tristan
TB Fanatic
We're waaaay past the "happenstance and coincidence" stages.
helen
Panic Sex Lady
I try to keep the message politically neutral, but it isn't neutral at all. I thought if we know what might happen, we develop a plan for getting through things.
The 1901 Indian Territory smallpox protocol for mail was to treat it with carbolic acid. We don't even have anything set up to sterilize packages.
The 1901 Indian Territory smallpox protocol for mail was to treat it with carbolic acid. We don't even have anything set up to sterilize packages.
psychgirl
TB Fanatic
And you remember how the infections literally exploded, all around the globe, all at the same time?
One might say….Monkeypox was seeded, huh. Imagine that.
I do recall we had conversations about that.
helen
Panic Sex Lady
I have never seen specific data on that, but it's worth looking into!
emiliozapata
Senior Member
Pretty sure i had dengue fever last week, every symptom except the rash
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