European health authority sees mpox having low impact if precautions taken

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, or ECDC, said that while it expects to see more cases of the clade I strain of mpox in Europe, it believes the impact of the virus will be low if certain precautions are taken.

In a statement issued Friday, the ECDC said it was “highly likely” more imported cases would be identified in the European Union and European Economic Area, but that the “likelihood of sustained transmission in Europe is very low provided that imported cases are diagnosed quickly and control measures are implemented.”

“Through strengthened surveillance and preparedness activities as well as the robust healthcare and response capacity in EU/EEA Member States, ECDC predicts that the impact on the EU/EEA from MPXV clade I will be low,” the agency added. Mpox is also known as MPXV and monkeypox.

The ECDC is recommending that member states issue travel advice for people visiting affected regions and that travelers consult healthcare providers about their eligibility for receiving mpox vaccinations. It is also recommending that public health authorities in Europe raise awareness of the virus to enable rapid detection and response and “maintain high levels of preparedness planning.”

On Friday, shares of Bavarian Nordic (OTCPK:BVNKF) (OTCPK:BVNRY) rose 16% on news that it submitted data to European regulators to support approval of its mpox/smallpox vaccine MVA-BN for adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. The vaccine is already approved for people aged 18 years or older.

Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP) and GeoVax Labs (NASDAQ:GOVX) are also developing vaccines for mpox while Emergent Biosciences (EBS) has an approved vaccine and treatment for smallpox, a related disease.

Mpox test makers include Co-Diagnostics (CODX), Roche (OTCQX:RHHBY) (OTCQX:RHHBF), Abbott Laboratories (ABT) and Applied DNA Sciences (APDN)