US buys more monkeypox vaccine as global case count grows

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. authorities is shopping for more monkeypox vaccine as a stunning worldwide outbreak continues to develop, well being officers mentioned Friday.

As of Friday, the U.S. had recognized 45 instances in 15 states and the District of Columbia. More than 1,300 instances have been present in about 30 different international locations outdoors the areas of Africa the place the virus is endemic.

Officials say the danger to the American public is low, however they’re taking steps to guarantee folks that medical measures are in place to take care of the rising drawback.

A two-dose vaccine, Jynneos, is accepted for monkeypox within the U.S.

The U.S. authorities has 72,000 Jynneos doses, and can get 300,000 more doses from its producer, Bavarian Nordic, over the subsequent a number of weeks, mentioned Dawn O’Connell, who oversees the federal government’s stockpile of emergency vaccines and coverings.

On Friday, the federal government introduced it had ordered 500,000 more Jynneos doses from Bavarian Nordic to be delivered late this year. The company is also holding different doses owned by the U.S. authorities, she mentioned.

“We have the vaccines and treatments we need to respond,” mentioned O’Connell, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Monkeypox is endemic in elements of Africa, the place individuals have been contaminated by means of bites from rodents or small animals. It doesn’t often unfold simply amongst individuals.

Last month, instances started rising in Europe and the United States. Many — however not all — of those that contracted the virus had traveled internationally. Most have been males who’ve intercourse with males, however well being officers stress that anybody can get monkeypox.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentioned Friday that each U.S. case they’d checked out concerned very shut contact.

Officials have alerted medical doctors to look at for monkeypox instances and supplied vaccinations to individuals involved with those that have been contaminated.

So far, over 1,400 vaccine programs and over 110 remedy programs have been despatched to affected state and native jurisdictions, officers mentioned.

___

The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely chargeable for all content material.