Colder months will soon be upon us and with them often comes a wave of flu and infectious diseases. As people across the globe are invited to schedule their annual flu vaccines, researchers are discussing tactics to curb mass spreading. The main talking point at present? Mpox, which the WHO recently declared a public health emergency of international concern.
Following this announcement, UNICEF has issued an emergency tender to secure Mpox vaccines for crisis hit countries, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria. However, vaccines are in short supply and a lack of treatments and diagnostics is hampering response. Currently, only one vaccine has been approved by the FDA and the EMA, which is concerning given the uphill battle we’re facing.
Many believe Mpox is the new COVID-19, destined to be the next pandemic. The slow response to callouts in developing countries is certainly feeling like deja-vu, but will virologists and clinicians succeed before we’re overcome on a worldwide scale? You can be sure that we’ll be reporting the latest updates on this rapidly evolving upsurge as it progresses.
In Other News…
A marine sponge microbe is found to be strikingly similar to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen responsible for TB – opening avenues in TB research and treatment. Link
Researchers develop a next-generation needle-free COVID-19 intranasal vaccine, potentially inducing both mucosal and systemic immunity in a single dose. Link
Researchers identify the human gastrointestinal tract as a possible niche for Chlamydia trachomatis – allowing the pathogen to survive in the gut for long periods of time. Link
China aims to establish a smart multi-trigger monitoring and warning system for infectious diseases that will be in place by 2030. Link
Key insights into how mosquitoes mate provides opportunities for improved malaria control and the development of traps to instigate prevention strategies. Link
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