Mpox

Most US COVID markers show declines Deaths were up a bit, but hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and test positivity trended downward. CIDRAP

COVID metrics showed more declines last week, though deaths from the virus—one of its severity indicators—rose 4.2% compared to the previous week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its latest data update. Deaths were up a bit in a number of states but were up more sharply in Oregon.

EU regulator backs Pfizer's updated COVID vaccine for XBB.1.5 variant The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Wednesday its human medicines committee (CHMP) recommended authorizing Pfizer's updated COVID-19 vaccine targeting the dominant XBB.1.5 variant of Omicron. Reuters Reuters

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Mpox cases rise 7% in Africa as Europe reports 17 new infections Africa has had a 7.4% case increase, with 111 new infections in the most recent 2 weeks. CIDRAP

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How small vaccine stockpiles can stop outbreaks of infectious disease from becoming big If we can’t get this right for known diseases like Marburg, what hope do we have for unknown pandemic threats? Torie Bosch STAT

...while fast-tracking candidate vaccines represents a positive step forward in the race to stop these outbreaks and to improve global health security, it raises an important question. If vaccine candidates already existed for both of these viruses before the outbreaks began, then why weren’t investigational stockpiles of vaccine ready to go when the first cases were detected?

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