On Friday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) raised its risk level for Mpox after a new strain of the virus was found outside Africa for the first time, in Sweden. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Mpox a global public health emergency following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that spread to nearby countries. ECDC officials warned that more cases of the new strain could appear in Europe in the coming weeks, although they believe the risk of ongoing transmission remains low. The ECDC has now classified the risk as “moderate” for sporadic cases in Europe and urged countries to stay alert, especially for travellers from affected regions. As news of the rising risk spread, shares in pharmaceutical companies working on Mpox vaccines saw significant gains. Danish biotech firm Bavarian Nordic’s shares jumped 20% after submitting data to the EU’s drug regulator to expand its Mpox and smallpox vaccine use to adolescents aged 12 to 17. Similarly, Tonix Pharmaceuticals, based in New Jersey, saw its stock rise after announcing plans to speed up the development of its mpox vaccine candidate. WHO officials held an emergency meeting to discuss how to ensure fair global access to mpox tests, treatments, and vaccines. The WHO emphasised that Mpox is usually mild but can be deadly. The virus causes pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms and is transmitted through close physical contact, including sexual contact. However, unlike Covid-19, mpox does not spread easily through the air. The new mpox strain, clade 1b, and the original strain, clade 1, are now circulating in the DRC. ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner noted that due to the close ties between Europe and Africa, Europe should be prepared for more imported cases of clade I. Meanwhile, Pakistan reported its first case of Mpox in a patient returning from a Gulf country, although it was unclear if it was the new variant or the globally circulating strain since 2022. WHO official Margaret Harris stated that more cases outside Africa will likely emerge as monitoring increases. However, the WHO has advised against travel restrictions to prevent spreading the virus. China also announced plans to monitor people and goods entering the country for mpox over the next six months. In response to the outbreak in Africa, global health organisations are calling for more diagnostic kits, treatments, and vaccines to be sent to the continent. The head of the global vaccine alliance, Gavi, stated that up to $500 million is available to help get vaccines to countries affected by the new strain of Mpox in Africa.
