Russia's state virology center has enough monkeypox vaccine - watchdog
MOSCOW. Aug 16 (Interfax) - Russia's State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor) has enough monkeypox vaccine, Rospotrebnadzor said in a statement.
"A monkeypox vaccine is available at the Vector Center. Given the unfavorable situation with orthopoxviruses, which are pathogenic to humans and therefore constantly monitored by Rospotrebnadzor, in recent years, research is being conducted to broaden Russia's capacities in the prevention, treatment and diagnostics of these pathogens," the statement said.
A fourth-generation vaccine for smallpox and other orthopoxvirus infections, OrthopoxVac, was registered by the Vector Research Center in 2022, it said. "The vaccine is intended, among other things, for preventing monkeypox, which belongs to the category of orthopoxviruses," it said.
OrthopoxVac is based on a weakened live vaccinia virus. It was developed by sequentially "switching off" six virulence genes in the original virus as a genetic composition producing stable immunity and having a high safety profile, it said.
Besides the vaccine, Vector specialists developed and registered a PCR system for differential diagnostics of smallpox and monkeypox viruses, as well as the specific anti-smallpox drug Antipoxvir (NIOH-14).
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared a public health emergency on August 14 in connection with a monkeypox outbreak.
Rospotrebnadzor said at the time that there was no monkeypox threat in Russia and all measures necessary were being taken to detect the infection.
Monkeypox is a rare infectious disease most common in remote areas of Central and West Africa. Symptoms include nausea, fever, rash, itching, and muscle pain. In mild cases, the disease usually disappears by itself and lasts for 14 to 21 days.