The government has become alert because of the ever-increasing cases of monkeypox in the country. The government has floated an 'expression of interest' i.e. tender for the manufacture of monkeypox vaccine. Apart from this, the tender has also been floated for the testing kit to test monkeypox. The vaccine and testing kit will be made through private-public partnership mode. According to the notification issued by the government, companies can submit EOI till August 10. So far, four cases of monkeypox have been found in the country. Of these, three are in Kerala and one in Delhi. The first patient with monkeypox detected in Delhi is admitted to LNJP Hospital. According to the reports, he is recovering.
Monkeypox virus isolated from patient's sample
At the same time, officials said on Wednesday that the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune under ICMR has isolated the monkeypox virus from the clinical sample of a patient. It could pave the way for the development of diagnostic kits and vaccines against the disease. With India isolated the virus, ICMR has also invited EOIs from experienced vaccine manufacturers, pharma companies, research and development institutions, and in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) kit manufacturers for collaboration in vaccine candidate development.
Dr. Pragya Yadav, a senior scientist at NIV said that isolating the virus will enhance India's ability to conduct multiple research and development. The National Institute of Virology has successfully isolated the monkeypox virus from a clinical sample of a patient which could help in the development of diagnostic kits and vaccines in the future. The live attenuated vaccine for smallpox was successful for mass vaccination in the past. Similar approaches could be tried to create the monkeypox vaccine.
Discussions begin with the Center for potential vaccine development
Sources said on Wednesday that several pharmaceutical companies have started discussions with the Center to develop a possible vaccine against monkeypox. A vaccine against monkeypox is in discussion with various vaccine manufacturing companies, but it is at a very early stage for any such decision. If it is needed we have potential manufacturers. If it is needed in the future, alternatives will be explored. One of the vaccine manufacturing companies said that there is no such next-generation vaccine specifically for monkeypox and the virus has also mutated. The company said that if the cases increase in the future, then the vaccine will be required.
NITI Aayog member Dr. VK Paul said no need to panic
Several pharmaceutical companies are engaged in discussions with the government on a possible vaccine for monkeypox. So far, four cases of monkeypox have been reported in India. Three cases are from Kerala while one is from Delhi. NITI Aayog member Dr. VK Paul in an interview with ANI said that India is fully prepared against this disease and there is no need to panic. Our disease surveillance system has become even more active to investigate such cases. The situation is under control, there is nothing to worry about and panic about.
WHO chief said this to avoid monkeypox
The head of the World Health Organization has advised that men who are at risk of contracting monkeypox should consider limiting the number of initmate partners for the time being. Earlier, WHO had declared monkeypox a global emergency. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that since the outbreak of monkeypox began in May, 98 percent of the people infected with it are gay, and other men. Most of the cases are such in which men have physical relations with other men.
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