The Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says that “some amount” of vaccine will be needed to contain the MPOX outbreak.
Mpox and the spread of the clade 1b variant have dominated health news since the WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on August 14.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa CDC, said during a webinar (27 August) that there is likely under-reporting and that an important part of the response will be improved surveillance and diagnostics. To this end, the Africa CDC is deploying 72 epidemiologists and medical staff.
Production in Africa
“The continent is not prepared for another pandemic,” said Dr Kaseya, adding that Africa is once again in a situation where it does not have its own manufacturing facilities.
Talks have begun with Bavaria Nordic about setting up a filling and manufacturing facility in Africa. Kaseya said only one of nine potential manufacturers had the capacity to produce the vaccine.
The Africa CDC is working with partners to determine the optimal amount of vaccine needed to control the outbreak. Kaseya said that even after the current emergency, Mpox remains a zoonosis to which rural communities will continue to be vulnerable, and that the response will require a forward-thinking program.
Spain donates 100,000 donations
Spanish Health Minister Monica Garcia announced yesterday (27 August) that she had informed the European Commission of Spain’s intention to donate 20% of its vaccine reserves, equivalent to 100,000 vials, enough to administer 500,000 doses.
Other news
HERA-funded project develops mpox diagnostics
The EU Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) announced that the DURABLE project, launched in 2023 with a budget of only 30 million euros (83% from HERA), has developed a set of primers to detect the clade lb-mpox virus. It is hoped that better diagnostics will make it easier to contain the spread of the disease through early detection.
DURABLE was established as a one-stop shop for diagnostics, research, preparedness and response to current and future health threats for the benefit of citizens in the EU and worldwide after the COVID-19 pandemic.
West Nile virus
On Saturday (August 24), we learned that Dr. Anthony Fauci, former U.S. medical officer, has recovered from West Nile virus. The virus, which is transmitted through mosquito bites, has been detected in 33 U.S. states.
The European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) warned On August 12, the virus season was in full swing in Europe. 69 locally transmitted cases of human infection were reported in eight European countries: Greece (31), Italy (25), Spain (5), Austria (2), Hungary (2), Serbia (2), France (1) and Romania (1). Eight deaths were reported by Greece (5), Italy (2) and Spain (1).
USA approves use of updated mRNA vaccines against the KP.2 and FliRT variants
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the updated vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech. Community for persons aged 12 and over; and Moderna’s SPIKEVAX COVID-19 vaccines for people aged 6 months and older.
The European Medicines Agency recommended a vaccine that specifically targets the JN.1 variant. Moderna is simultaneously producing an updated COVID-19 vaccine that targets the JN.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2, but the company expects further approval decisions in the coming weeks.
French study comes to reassuring conclusions about vaccines and myocarditis
While the mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 were very effective in reducing the risk of hospitalization, there were a very small number of cases where there was an increased risk of myocarditis, particularly in young men after the second dose. study A study conducted in France, which examined nationwide data on the medium- and long-term consequences of myocarditis following vaccination, found that this group had fewer cardiovascular complications than people suffering from myocarditis from other causes.
Better access to clinical trials for patients with pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic Cancer Europe (PCE) has announced a partnership with myTomorrows to improve access to clinical trials and expand treatment options for patients with one of the most difficult to treat cancers.
PCE Chairman Professor Alfredo Carrato said: “We are delighted to be able to offer a more accessible and informed approach to clinical trials, improving the care of patients with pancreatic cancer.”
Dr. Michel van Harten, CEO of myTomorrows, said this would improve access to important treatments and simplify the process of finding and understanding clinical trials.
Impressive decline in cardiovascular diseases
Our world in data diagrams shows a decline in deaths from cardiovascular disease in richer countries such as Denmark and the UK since 1950. This decline is thought to be due to less smoking and improvements in diagnosis and monitoring, as well as the use of statins to lower cholesterol.
Racism and discrimination in public health
The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), organised an event on Tuesday (27 August) focusing on the impact of racism and discrimination on public health in Europe.
The discussions highlighted the need for explicit recognition of racism and discrimination as public health problems and the importance of integrating a human rights-based approach into health and anti-racism policies.
EPHA Director Milka Sokolović urged that these problems be systematically recognised and integrated into European Union health policy, stressing the importance of inclusive language and the active participation of affected communities in policy-making processes.
EPHA and OHCHR will present their recommendations to the European Commission and expect them to be included in the next EU anti-racism action plan.
Zuckerberg claims he was under pressure to remove COVID-related content
In a letter Speaking to U.S. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, META CEO Mark Zuckerberg claims that senior Biden administration officials “repeatedly pressured our teams to censor certain COVID-19 content” in 2021. Zuckerberg does not specify which content was of concern, but writes only that it contained “humor and satire.”
Zuckerberg writes that the decision to remove content ultimately rests with the company. However, he believes it is wrong to put pressure on the company. In the future, he says, “we are prepared to fight back if something like this happens again.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Commission and the European Union of Medical Specialists, among others, have Worries about the “infodemic” of misinformation and disinformation about the disease that is spreading on Facebook and other platforms.
WHO launches appeal for donations of 120 million euros to combat MPOX
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) costing 120 million euros to combat MPOX over the next six months.
Moderation and premium drinks are changing the European alcohol market
Europe has some of the world’s best known spirits, from French Cognac to Scottish and Irish whiskey, but changing consumer tastes, cocktails and the rise of low and no alcohol options are transforming the industry under the pressure of economic challenges.
EU offers to take the lead in providing MPOX vaccine donations
EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides has contacted EU Health Ministers and offered to coordinate the delivery of additional donations of MPOX vaccines and therapeutics to the affected regions in the coming months.
Podcast: Why the European Union became the next big target of the drug market
The European Union is increasingly becoming a target of international drug lords, according to the latest data from the European Drugs Agency (EUDA) – a growing attention that has led to a rise in drug-related deaths and violence over the past five years, affecting communities across the EU.
WHO warns of “another cycle of panic and subsequent neglect” in response to MPOX
Hans Kluge, WHO (World Health Organization) Regional Director for Europe, is confident that Europe can get monkeypox under control, but calls for more consistent support and solidarity for Africa.
News from the capitals
Greece
Athens supports regulatory commitment to pricing and reimbursement to ensure access to medicines
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Belgium
Congo turns to Belgian pharmaceutical company for Mpox antigen rapid tests
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Sweden
Experts warn: Osteoporosis crisis in Sweden could worsen
Sweden activates MPOX contact tracing and prepares emergency plans to contain the virus
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Ireland
Public consultation on rare diseases in Ireland opens to develop a new strategy
Ireland’s pharmaceutical sector seeks greater funding for new drugs in the 2025 budget
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Czech Republic
Czech MEP calls for EU budget support for expensive gene and cell therapies
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Slovakia
Unprepared and overpriced: Slovakia’s response to pandemic criticised by Court of Auditors
Slovak health insurance companies forecast annual losses in the double-digit millions
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Bulgaria
Bulgarian secret services under surveillance for pressure on health activists
Bulgaria tries to save hospitals from bankruptcy with investment loans
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Poland
Polish government consults industry on 80 changes to drug reimbursement law
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Cross country
Location, location, location – European access to new medicines is a national postcode lottery
27 – 29 August|WHO Geneva, Update of the Public Health Research Agenda for Influenza
4 September|European Parliament, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
5 September|Public Health Council Working Group
6 September|Council Working Group on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
9 September|European Parliament, Subcommittee on Public Health
12 September|European Parliament, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
(Edited by Chris Powers)
