UK—The United Kingdom has launched a dedicated consortium of scientists, researchers, and experts from leading institutes to combat the monkeypox outbreak.
While monkeypox diagnoses have decreased in the UK in recent months, the country’s new research hub aims to keep the virus at bay on a global scale.
The £2 million (nearly US$2.3 million) project, led by the Pirbright Institute and the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, has been funded by the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council and the Medical Research Council, both of which are part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The research will look at several important aspects of the disease, beginning with the virus itself, its characterization, how it evolves, and the human immune response.
In terms of combating and controlling the virus, the researchers hope to develop tests similar to the lateral flow tests that were popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This will allow people to quickly and proactively identify the virus before seeking medical attention.
“The implications of the current monkeypox outbreak are huge,” said Professor Bryan Charleston, co-lead from The Pirbright Institute, said.
“As well as tackling the current outbreak, we also need to be fully prepared for next outbreak, because worldwide there’s a huge reservoir of infection. One of the key ways we can do this is to develop rapid tests, which are very important to help clinicians on the front line to manage the disease.”
Perhaps the most important part of this project will be finding a drug that effectively combats monkeypox in human cells.
It will also vet the effectiveness of the smallpox vaccination against the disease.
“This new national consortium will study the unprecedented monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it,” adds Professor Melanie Welham, Executive Chair of BBSRC.
“This will feed rapidly into global public health strategies, developing new diagnostic tests and identifying potential therapies.”
Ultimately, the findings will inform the response to the monkeypox virus on an international scale.
Too soon to celebrate
The global monkeypox outbreak has been declining for months, but experts warn against declaring victory too soon because a resurgence is still possible, and the virus still circulates in African countries where it has long been endemic.
Since the outbreak of monkeypox in May, more than 73,000 cases and 29 deaths have been reported in over 100 countries, according to the World Health Organization.
However, infection rates have consistently declined since peaking in July, particularly in Europe and North America, which were the hardest hit areas in the early stages of the global outbreak.
Monkeypox is transmitted through close physical contact, including sex, with an infected person.
This year, 107 WHO member countries have reported cases, though 39 have reported no new cases in the last 21 days.
The top ten countries by total number of cases are the United States (26,723), Brazil (8,147), Spain (7,209), France (4,043), the United Kingdom (3,654), Germany (3,640), Peru (2,587), Colombia (2,453), Mexico (1,968), and Canada (1,400).
These countries account for nearly 87% of all cases worldwide. According to the WHO’s case dashboard, 97% were men, with a median age of 35 years old; 90% identified as men who had sex with men; and 49% were HIV-positive.
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