(AFP) The European Medicines Agency (EMA) He said Thursday that he is discussing with a manufacturer of the vaccine against human smallpox to examine the possibility of using it against monkeypox, after the recent appearance of cases.
The EMA indicated that he contacted the laboratory that produces the Imvanex vaccine, against smallpox, “as a precaution” and thus ensure that there are sufficient reserves.
“Despite the unprecedented spread in Europe, This is not currently a public health emergency.declared Marco Cavaleri, responsible for the EMA’s vaccination strategy, at a press conference.
Monkeypox is an often benign disease, but it raised concerns the recent appearance of cases in non-endemic areas, especially in Europe, but also in North America and the Middle East.
Since a month ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) detected more than 550 cases in 30 countries where this disease was not common.
Considered less dangerous and contagious, monkeypox virus It presents similarities with that of human smallpox, eradicated since the 1980s, the date on which vaccination campaigns ceased.
The EMA authorized the Imvanex vaccine in 2013manufactured by the Danish laboratory Bavarian Nordic, which did not then request an authorization to use it against monkeypox.
Animal test data shows that Imvanex is “effective” against monkeypox, Cavaleri pointed out.
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