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One wave has not yet subsided, another wave rises

Monkeypox outbreak again draws global attention

Following the monkeypox incident in 2023

Now it's making a comeback

It has broken out in Africa...

According to CCTV News, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on the 14th that the monkeypox epidemic constitutes an "international public health emergency." This is the second time in more than two years that the WHO has declared a monkeypox epidemic an "international public health emergency."

According to WHO data,More than 15,600 monkeypox cases have been reported so far this year, surpassing the total number of cases last year, with 537 deaths。

(Source: World Health Organization X account)

On August 13, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency in Africa and called on African countries to take urgent action to prevent the continued spread of monkeypox on the African continent.

On August 8, Jean Cassia, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in an online conference that at least 16 countries in Africa are currently affected by monkeypox, and the number of monkeypox cases reported in Africa this year has increased by 160% compared with the same period in 2023. He said that countries must take strong action to curb the monkeypox epidemic currently spreading in Africa.

“The virus has mutated and adapted to new ways of spreadingMonkeypox was initially spread only through contact between animals and humans, he said.But now it is mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse, which is the reason for the increase in cases.

Kasaya believes that the delay in the detection and treatment of monkeypox cases is also a major reason for the rapid spread of the disease. In addition, factors such as climate change have also exacerbated the spread of the disease.

According to China News Service, after the monkeypox epidemic constituted a public health emergency in Africa, the European Union announced on the 14th that it would donate more than 210,000 doses of vaccine to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to respond to the ongoing spread of monkeypox in the area.

According to an announcement released by the European Commission on the same day, the vaccines donated by the EU are MVA-BN smallpox vaccines produced by the Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic, totaling 215,420 doses, of which 175,420 doses were purchased by the EU and the remaining 40,000 doses were donated by Bavarian Nordic.

As a viral zoonosis, monkeypox and smallpox belong to the same genus of orthopoxvirus, and vaccination with smallpox can play a certain preventive role against monkeypox. Currently, the MVA-BN smallpox vaccine has been approved in the European Union for the prevention of monkeypox.

The announcement showed that in addition to donating vaccines, the EU also plans to donate 3.5 million euros to the Africa CDC this fall to help the Africa CDC increase its efforts in monkeypox detection and viral gene sequencing.

Kyriakides, the European Commission's Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said in the announcement that health security threats know no borders and hoped to protect the most vulnerable groups in African countries affected by monkeypox by donating more than 210,000 doses of vaccine.

Influenced by the World Health Organization's announcement that the monkeypox epidemic constitutes an "international public health emergency", concept stocks in the vaccine, drug and testing sectors have all shown an upward trend.

According to Cailian Press, the two securities of Bavarian Nordic, a monkeypox vaccine manufacturer from Denmark, BVNKF and BVNRY, which are traded over the counter in the US stock market, rose by 40.7% and 32.52% respectively. In addition, Emergent BioSolutions, a developer of monkeypox/smallpox vaccine, rose by 11.65% and Chimerix rose by 9.47%.

In addition, GeoVax Labs, a developer of monkeypox treatment drugs, rose 30%, and SIGA rose 26.94%; Roche and Abbott, manufacturers of monkeypox virus testing products, also rose simultaneously, and Applied DNA Sciences rose 25.82%.

In the A-share market, monkeypox concept stocks include Huaren Pharmaceutical (300110.SZ), Biolight Innovation (300318.SZ), Asia Pacific Pharmaceutical (002370.SZ), Zhijiang Bio (688317.SH), Wondfo Biotech (300482.SZ), Daan Gene (002030.SZ), Shengxiang Bio (688289.SH), and ShuoShi Biotech (688399.SH), etc.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis. Initial symptoms of monkeypox infection in humans include fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, and swollen lymph nodes, which can later develop into a widespread rash on the face and body. Most people recover within a few weeks, but some become seriously ill or even die.

After the first human case of monkeypox virus was discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970, the virus has been prevalent in western and central Africa. Since May 2022, more than 100 countries and regions around the world have reported cases of monkeypox. In July of the same year, the World Health Organization announced that the monkeypox epidemic constituted an "international public health emergency", which was not lifted until May 2023.

Disclaimer: The content and data of this article are for reference only and do not constitute investment advice. Investors who act accordingly shall bear their own risks.

Daily Economic News integrates CCTV News, Cailianshe, China News Service, etc.