The European Union is implementing the first measures to deal with the spread of the monkeypox epidemic. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has in fact started the revision of the data to extend the use of a vaccine against human smallpox also to monkeypox. A decision based, an EMA note reads, “on the results of laboratory studies, non-clinical data, which suggest that the vaccine triggers the production of antibodies that target the monkeypox virus and may help protect from the disease “.
Monkeypox, experts: “No to mass vaccination”
The vaccine Imvanex it is currently authorized in the EU for the prevention of smallpox in adults. It contains a modified live form of the vaccine virus called ‘Vaccinia Ankara’, which belongs to the same family as the smallpox virus. Given the limited availability in Europe, Ema recommended the use of the American analogue of the product (marketed under the name of Jynneos) which in the US has already been authorized for the prevention of monkeypox. “The task force has provided this advice to support national authorities who may decide, as a temporary measure, to import Jynneos from the United States,” EMA said.
Smallpox of monkeys. Origin, transmission, vaccine: what we know so far
The numbers of the epidemic
Meanwhile, the numbers are growing. The cases registered as of June 28 are 4,178, distributed in 31 countries and areas in Europe. Of these, 159 in Italy. The highest number is reported by the United Kingdom, with 1,076, followed by Germany with 838, Spain 736. The data is provided by the Joint Surveillance Bulletin produced by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Ecdc) and the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO). Which also provides a first epidemiological description of the cases. Most of those affected are aged between 31 and 40 years, 99.5% of the cases are male. The infection presented with a rash and systemic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, sore throat, or headache (-73%). No deaths were reported.
Symptoms and cases of monkeypox
Monkeypox is caused by a virus similar (but less severe and widespread) to the one that causes human smallpox, which was declared eradicated in 1980 by the WHO. Monkeypox is still present in an endemic form in Central and West African countries and is a zoonosis that can affect humans through contact with infected animals, in particular primates and small rodents, while inter-human contagion requires close contact. In the ongoing outbreak, the earliest date of onset of monkeypox symptoms was reported on April 17, 2022.