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The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that the current outbreak of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
The decision came after an emergency committee of the global body convened on Wednesday to discuss whether the ongoing outbreak, attributed to a newer and deadlier mpox strain, represents a public health emergency.
On Tuesday, the Africa CDC, the region’s top public health body, declared the outbreak, which started in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is spreading to neighboring countries, a “public health emergency of continental security.”
PHEIC is WHO’s highest level of warning, previously issued for the COVID-19 pandemic and Ebola. In July 2022, the WHO issued a similar classification after mpox spread to more than 75 countries, including the U.S. leading to more than 16,000 cases.
Vaccine developers for monkeypox include Bavarian Nordic (OTCPK:BVNKF) (OTCPK:BVNRY), Emergent BioSolutions (EBS), and Chimerix (CMRX).
Developers of therapeutics for monkeypox: GeoVax Labs (NASDAQ:GOVX), SIGA Technologies (NASDAQ:SIGA), and Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP).
Monkeypox test makers: Co-Diagnostics (CODX), Roche (OTCQX:RHHBY) (OTCQX:RHHBF), Abbott Laboratories (ABT)
More on Bavarian Nordic, SIGA, etc.
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