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Imvanex has been approved in the EU since 2013 for the prevention of smallpox

EMA recommends smallpox vaccine against monkeypox

The European Union's drug watchdog has recommended for approval the use of a smallpox vaccine to treat monkeypox, which could be classified by the World Health Organization as a global health emergency.

World • 22 Jul 22

Doses of the Smallpox and Monkeypox Vaccine being prepped at the JRI Health clinic, in Framingham, Massachusetts

WHO decision due over global monkeypox alert

The World Health Organization will reconvene its expert monkeypox committee to decide whether the outbreak now constitutes a global health emergency - the highest alarm it can sound.

World • 21 Jul 22

More than 3,400 monkeypox cases have been recorded worldwide since May

UK monkeypox symptoms 'different to prior outbreaks'

British monkeypox patients are exhibiting symptoms that differ from previous outbreaks, the first study examining UK cases said, leading researchers to call for the definition of the disease to be updated.

World • 02 Jul 22

Most of the new cases of monkeypox have been in western Europe

Festivals should not be scrapped due to monkeypox - WHO

The World Health Organization has said that European summer festivals should not be cancelled due to the monkeypox outbreak but should instead manage the risk of amplifying the virus.

World • 25 Jun 22

The spread of monkeypox has raised alarm

WHO emergency committee decides on monkeypox outbreak

A World Health Organization committee of experts has met decide whether the monkeypox outbreak constitutes a global health emergency.

World • 23 Jun 22

Scientists say there is a need to change the name of the virus (stock image)

Why monkeypox may get a new name

Monkeypox may soon have a new name after scientists called for a change to dispel stereotypes of Africa being seen as a crucible of disease.

World • 22 Jun 22

KDCA raised its alert level for infectious diseases

South Korea reports first confirmed monkeypox case

South Korea has confirmed its first case of monkeypox virus and pledged to strengthen monitoring and response systems as it raised the alert level to "caution" for the infectious disease.

World • 22 Jun 22

The WHO is due to hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to decide whether to classify the outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern (File photo)

UK to offer monkeypox vaccine to control spread

The UK Health Security Agency has recommended that some gay and bisexual men at higher risk of contracting monkeypox should be offered a vaccine to control an outbreak.

World • 21 Jun 22

Officials say the smallpox vaccines will also work against the monkeypox virus (above)

EU buys 110,000 vaccine doses against monkeypox

The European Union has said it has purchased almost 110,000 vaccine doses to help tackle the monkeypox outbreak and would share them out among the bloc's members.

World • 14 Jun 22

Monkeypox was deemed a notifiable disease from 7 June

Suspected monkeypox cases must be reported in NI

Northern Ireland's chief medical officer has said all suspected cases of monkeypox must be reported to the Public Health Agency.

Ulster • 08 Jun 22

A positive monkeypox test result at a lab in La Paz Hospital, Madrid, Spain today

Outbreaks of monkeypox reported in 30 countries

Around 30 countries where monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the viral disease, with more than 780 confirmed or suspected infections mostly in Europe.

Health • 06 Jun 22

Testing for monkeypox is continuing as the WHO expect to see further spread of the virus

WHO records 780 cases of monkeypox worldwide

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that 780 laboratory-confirmed monkeypox cases had been reported from 27 countries from 13 May to 2 June while maintaining that the global risk level was moderate.

World • 05 Jun 22

The HPSC said public health teams are following up those who had close contact with the case while they were infectious

Six cases of monkeypox now confirmed in Ireland

Six cases of monkeypox have now been confirmed in Ireland.

Ireland • 02 Jun 22

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said the Irish cases were 'not unexpected'

Two confirmed cases of monkeypox in Ireland - HSE

There are now two confirmed cases of monkeypox in the Republic of Ireland, according to the HSE.

Ireland • 31 May 22

The WHO also said that the sudden appearance of monkeypox at once in several non-endemic countries suggests undetected transmission for some time

WHO: Monkeypox a moderate risk to global public health

The World Health Organization has said that monkeypox constitutes a "moderate risk" to overall public health at global level, after cases were reported in countries where the disease is not typically found.

World • 30 May 22

There are more than 200 confirmed or suspected cases in around 20 countries where the virus was not previously circulating (Stock image)

First case of monkeypox confirmed in Ireland

The first case of the monkeypox virus has been been confirmed in Ireland.

Health • 28 May 22

HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid said the monkeypox vaccines are expected to be delivered 'very shortly'

No need for mass vaccination against monkeypox - WHO

A World Health Organization senior official has said that the priority needs to be containing monkeypox in non-endemic countries, saying that this can be achieved through quick action.

Health • 27 May 22

ECDC said the contagion risk is 'very low'

First case of monkeypox reported on island of Ireland

Northern Ireland will see further cases of monkeypox, the chief medical officer Michael McBride has predicted.

World • 26 May 22

Global health officials have sounded the alarm over rising cases of the monkeypox in Europe and elsewhere

Roche develops PCR tests for monkeypox

Finland has identified a "highly likely" first case of monkeypox in the country, Helsinki hospital district has said.

World • 25 May 22

Monkeypox does not usually spread easily between people (File image)

WHO says monkeypox is 'containable'

There have been 131 confirmed monkeypox cases and 106 further suspected cases since the first case was reported on 7 May outside the countries where it usually spreads, the World Health Organization has said.

World • 24 May 22

There are no known monkeypox cases in Ireland at present

Austria confirms first case of monkeypox

Austria's first case of monkeypox has been confirmed, Vienna's health authority said this afternoon, after reporting the case as suspected.

World • 22 May 22

The monkeypox virus has been reported in the US and Canada, as well as Eutrope

Rare monkeypox outbreaks detected in N America, Europe

Health authorities in North America and Europe have detected dozens of suspected or confirmed cases of monkeypox since early May, sparking concern the disease endemic in parts of Africa is spreading.

World • 19 May 22

Monkeypox