The monkeypoxvirus responsible for the monkeypox epidemic currently present in Europe was isolated at the Sacco hospital in Milan , in the laboratory of Clinical Microbiology, Virology and Bioemergency Diagnostics.
"This represents an important result for scientific research - commented Lombard Vice President Letizia Moratti - it will be possible to test the activity of antiviral drugs and test the antibody response of patients who have contracted the infection and of the share of the population vaccinated against the virus. of smallpox ".
WHO - “We don't know if we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg ,” said Sylvie Briand , director of WHO's global infectious risk preparedness department today, during a presentation to member states on the spread of the virus.
Experts are trying to determine what caused this "unusual situation" and preliminary results show no variation or mutation in the monkeypox virus, he added.
"We have a window of opportunity to stop the broadcast," continued Briand. "If we put the right measures in place now, we can probably contain it quickly ."
Meanwhile, a new case has been registered in Italy and infections are growing day by day in various countries: in Spain those confirmed have risen from 84 to 98 and another 16 cases have been identified in the United Kingdom, bringing the total to 106.
VACCINES - A situation that prompted the EU to take immediate countermeasures . Through the European Authority for the preparation and response to health emergencies (Hera), the European Union is in fact working on a centralized purchase of vaccines and antivirals .
Vaccination, according to EU sources, will in any case be limited "to very specific cases" given that transmissibility and risk associated with monkeypox "are not comparable" with Covid .
(Unioneonline / lf)