In addition to using inactivated virus vaccines, Europe and the United States use antiviral drugs to treat people with monkeypox.
Currently, there is only one vaccine against monkeypox in Europe, Jynneos of Bavaria Nordic. Jynneos uses an inactivated virus that cannot be replicated. Thus, the smallpox virus in the vaccine does not spread in the body. The vaccine is given in two doses, 4 weeks apart.
The US also signed a $119 million contract with Bavaria Nordic to buy 13 million doses of the Jynneos vaccine, after a Massachusetts man was diagnosed with the disease. The Jynneos vaccine was originally used to treat smallpox, but the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved emergency use of this vaccine to prevent monkeypox in 2019.
The monkeypox virus is closely related to the virus that causes smallpox. So the smallpox vaccine could protect the community from monkeypox as well. Data from Africa show that the smallpox vaccine is at least 85% effective at preventing the virus from infecting. The efficacy of Jynneos on monkeypox was drawn from previous immunogenicity and preclinical studies.
The smallpox and monkeypox vaccines are effective if given before exposure to the virus. Experts also suggest that getting an injection soon after infection can help prevent illness or make symptoms less severe.
Vial of simulation vaccine against monkeypox, May 22. Image: Reuters
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that vaccines are most protective if given as early as possible. For exposed individuals, injections should be given within 4 days to prevent and minimize symptoms.
In addition, people with monkeypox can be treated with drugs such as Cidofovir, Brincidofovir, Tecovirimat, serum (Globulin) immunity. The CDC notes that there are no data on efficacy for these classes of drugs.
Cidofovir and Brincidofovir have been shown against viruses of the poxvirus family (which can cause smallpox) in animal and test tube studies. Scientists still don’t know if the drug can treat people with severe symptoms. Brincidofovir has a higher safety profile than Cidofovir. Experts have not recorded any nephrotoxicity or unwanted effects of the drug.
Tecovirimat is effective against viruses of the genus orthopoxvirus (in the poxvirus family) that can cause smallpox. Clinical trials have shown the drug to be safe and well tolerated, with only minor side effects.
Experts of unknown serotype (Globulin) are considered by CDC for prophylactic use in immunocompromised patients exposed to smallpox virus.
WHO calls on countries to strengthen surveillance, contact tracing and case management. However, this organization warned that the massive and indiscriminate procurement of drugs and vaccines when the infections were still relatively low would have a negative impact. According to the latest figures, the UK recorded 70 cases, the rest of Europe reported 67 people with monkeypox.
Thuc Linh (Follow CDC, CNN)
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here
