Public Health News Roundup: Mpox Clade 1b In More Countries -- Increasing, And Strengthening The EU's Bavarian Nordic A/S Vaccine Funding...

There have now been 17 deaths in the last month (since last WHO report) -- in Africa, from Mpox Clade 1b. Overall, over 2,860 new cases were reported -- as well. Yikes.

Here is the latest from Reuters, based on a new WHO situation report, overnight:

. . .The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that 17 countries in Africa have experienced ongoing active transmission of mpox over the past six weeks, with 2,862 confirmed cases, including 17 deaths between September 14 and October 19.

WHO also said that Malaysia, Namibia, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain have detected the Clade Ib mpox(MPXV) for the first time since the agency's last report. . . .

[And separately,] Bavarian Nordic A/S announced today the award of a joint procurement contract by the European Commission, through the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), enabling the EU, its member states and additional European countries to purchase up to eight million doses of the Company’s MVA-BN^® smallpox/mpox vaccine.

The two-year agreement, which may be extended for up to additional two years, builds on the previous agreement entered by the parties in 2022, and aims to ensure continuous access to the MVA-BN vaccine throughout Europe. In this extended agreement, the European Commission and 20 countries have confirmed their participation. . . .

Onward, grinning -- hanging out with lil' goblins, this evening -- by the lawn fire-pit. Pumpkin carving contest. . . starts at 1 pm! And likely finishes, with breaks in between -- across time zones, after transmissions of entries, and judging -- by insta-. . . close to midnight, Pacific time. Heh!

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