New Delhi: Amidst the looming dangers of monkeypox in the world, the central government has taken a big decision. For this, the central government has sought expression of interest from the vaccine manufacturing companies of the country. That is, applications have been sought from vaccine manufacturers who are willing to make monkeypox vaccines. The central government has sought tender from experienced vaccine manufacturers to jointly manufacture vaccine diagnostic kits against zoonotic diseases. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has sought expression of interest in this regard from vaccine manufacturing companies, pharma companies, research and development institutions, and in vitro kit diagnostic kit manufacturers.
The monkeypox vaccine and its diagnostic kit will have to be developed simultaneously by all these manufacturers. After four confirmed cases of monkeypox in the country, the government wants speedy action in this matter.
Clear the way for making diagnostic kits and vaccines
Meanwhile, the Pune-based National Institute of Virology, working under ICMR, has succeeded in isolating the monkeypox virus from the patient’s clinical sample. NIV’s senior scientist Dr Pragya Yadav has said that this can provide a way to make vaccines along with diagnostic kits. Isolating the virus from the sample is a huge achievement. This will effectively increase India’s capacity in research and will open the way for research in many other directions as well.
The current monkeypox virus is less dangerous
According to WHO, monkeypox is a viral zoonosis. That is, this virus is transmitted from animals to humans or comes from animal to human. Its symptoms are more or less similar to smallpox but it is less severe. The most common symptoms of monkeypox are fever, rashes, and swollen lymph glands which can lead to a variety of complications. NIV’s senior scientist Dr. Pragya Yadav said that the recent cases have raised a worrying situation but are less serious than the Congo variant. The current monkeypox virus is of the West African strain. He said that among the cases in India, it is the West African strain that is less serious.
