An Mpox vaccine “has to be made available” where it's needed, a leading academic has warned.
There were 86,000 cases in the last major outbreak and around 100 deaths.
A new, rare strain of the virus is now being spread by very close contact, and a case has already been detected in Sweden.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also declared Mpox a public health emergency of international concern earlier this week.
DCU Professor of Health Systems Anthony Staines said it will probably arrive in this country.
“What’s happening at the moment is there is a new major outbreak of Mpox in Africa,” he told Newstalk.
“This version of the virus is new. It seems to be more infectious than the previous versions.
“It has occurred in Sweden, has been identified there, and it is likely to occur in other parts of Europe as well - so at some point, it’s likely to come here.”
Vaccine
Prof Staines said a vaccine will help control the virus.
“A vaccine exists. It has to be manufactured in adequate quantity and made available where it’s needed, and where it’s needed is Africa,” he said.
“That’s where almost all the cases are right now, and if we can stop the spread in Africa, if we can stop the spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries, that would really help us control this.”
More than 17,000 Mpox cases and at least 571 deaths have been confirmed in Africa this year, officials have said.
Main image: A person is administered the COVID vaccine. Image: ANP / Alamy Stock Photo
