Biden on monkeypox: ‘Everyone should’ be concerned about the spread of the disease

Biden said The recent outbreak of monkeypox infection – Defined by the World Health Organization in at least 12 countries where there is no relatively rare disease endemic It can be a “dependency” if it persists.

Biden said health advisors “haven’t told me the level of exposure yet, but it’s something everyone should feel.” “It’s a concern because if it gets published it will be a consequence.”

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States has vaccines available to treat a potential outbreak of monkeypox, and that Biden has been briefed on the case’s pathways both domestically and abroad. “He’s being briefed on that very regularly,” Sullivan told reporters on Sunday aboard Air Force One after leaving South Korea.

Scientists are rushing to find out what caused the infection and how to respond. So far, WHO has received Reports Of the 92 lab-confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases under investigation in the United States, Canada, Australia and nine countries in Europe. Two countries not on the WHO list – Israel And Switzerland – It reported the first confirmed cases on Saturday.

Studies show that the smallpox vaccine is at least 85% effective against monkeypox, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which notes that the United States has licensed two smallpox vaccines, one of which is specifically authorized for monkeypox.

What is monkeypox, a rare virus now confirmed in the United States and Europe?

The unexplained spread of an infectious virus has raised alarm bells in a scientific community still reeling from Corona Virus Pandemic – but some experts are careful to note that the two are different. Monkeypox is less easily transmitted between humans, and there are vaccine options that have been shown to be effective against the disease.

At this point, the overall risk to the public from monkeypox is “very, very low,” said Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, He previously told the Washington Post.

One case of monkeypox has been identified in Massachusetts, health officials in New York City She said On Friday, two patients were tested as part of an investigation into suspected cases of monkeypox in the state. State authorities said one patient tested positive for orthopoxvirus, the family of viruses to which monkeypox belongs, and “had a disease consistent with monkeypox.”

The CDC tells doctors to be on the alert for monkeypox as global cases rise

On Wednesday, the Copenhagen-based Bavarian Nordic company that developed a smallpox vaccine licensed for use against monkeypox in the United States said the US government has exercised its options under an agreement with the drug company to supply a freeze-dried version of the JYNNEOS® smallpox vaccine, allowing the manufacture of the first doses of this Issue and billed in 2023 and 2024″.

Northern Bavaria said the demand for new doses of the vaccine, which has a longer shelf life, is worth $119 million. new version. Under its agreement with the company, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority can still exercise $180 million in options for about 13 million lyophilized doses of the smallpox vaccine in the future.

A spokesperson for Health and Human Services Axios said That purchase was not a direct response to the infection, but he said the doses could be used to treat monkeypox.

Separately, North Bavarian She said It “was awarded a contract with an undeclared European country to supply IMVANEX® smallpox vaccine in response to new cases of monkeypox that emerged during May 2022.” ImphanixThe Jynneos vaccine, as the Jynneos vaccine is known in Europe, was only licensed there to treat smallpox, but was used “off-labelIn previous monkeypox incidents.

At least two European countries have moved to stockpile vaccines in a possible attempt to keep up with the spread of the disease. UK Health Minister Sajid Javid confirmed On Friday, the UK – where the World Health Organization says 21 to 30 cases of monkeypox have been reported – “purchased additional doses of effective monkeypox vaccines”.

Meanwhile, Spain is preparing to buy thousands of additional doses of the Imvanex vaccine, Spanish newspaper El Pais reports mentioned. Spain is also moving to buy more antiviral treatment called monkeypox tecofermatAccording to the newspaper.

Kim reported from Tokyo. Meryl Kornfield, Hannah Knowles, Timothy Bella and Lindsey Beaver contributed to this report.