Monkeypox Variant Spreads to New Countries
A new variant of monkeypox (mpox) is rapidly spreading to countries that previously had no reported cases, raising global concerns and increasing demand for vaccines.
Vaccine Stocks Surge Amid Growing Demand
As the threat of monkeypox escalates, pharmaceutical companies specializing in vaccines have seen a significant rise in their stock values. Bavarian Nordic, the Danish company behind the JYNNEOS vaccine, saw its shares climb by approximately 17.6% on Friday morning.
JYNNEOS remains one of only two monkeypox vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is recommended by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE).
Bavarian Nordic announced plans to produce around 10 million doses for African nations by the end of next year, with 300,000 doses already prepared for shipment.
Broader Market Reaction to the Outbreak
The monkeypox outbreak has triggered gains in other healthcare and biotechnology stocks.
- Shanghai ZJ Bio-Tech (China) surged 7.91%, benefiting from increased demand for virus detection kits.
- Precision System Science (Japan), a medical equipment provider, saw its shares rise 5.28%.
- Even companies without direct involvement in monkeypox vaccine production experienced gains, with AstraZeneca shares rising 1.36% and Novo Nordisk up 2.34%.
Global Health Risks and the Role of the WHO
The recent resurgence of COVID-19 and its potential impact on events such as the Paris Olympics have further fueled interest in healthcare stocks, particularly in Asian markets.
Professor Dimie Ogoina, speaking on the WHO’s website, emphasized the urgency of the situation:
“The spread of a new sexually transmissible monkeypox variant in parts of Africa is not just a regional issue—it’s a global emergency.”
WHO Africa Regional Director Dr. Matshidiso Moeti added:
“We are working closely with governments and communities to strengthen prevention measures. Coordinated international action is essential to stop these outbreaks.”
What Do We Know About Monkeypox?
Monkeypox (mpox) was first discovered in 1958 in laboratory monkeys in Denmark. The first human case was identified in 1970 in a nine-month-old child in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus caused a global outbreak in 2022-2023.
A new variant has recently emerged, spreading to countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, and Rwanda, where previous cases had not been recorded.
On Thursday, Swedish authorities confirmed the first detected case outside Africa, as reported by the BBC.
Looking Ahead
With the rapid spread of the new variant, the WHO may consider reclassifying monkeypox as an international public health emergency, a status it last held in May 2022. The evolving situation underscores the need for swift global action and continued vaccine production to prevent another large-scale outbreak.
