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- Primate data: Gamalea Center is ready to create a vaccine against smallpox of monkeys
Primate data: Gamalea Center is ready to create a vaccine against smallpox of monkeys
The Gamalea Center is ready to develop a modern vaccine against smallpox in monkeys without the severe side effects that are possible after vaccination with a classic drug with a weakened virus. For this reason, the available remedy is not suitable for people with reduced immunity, children and pregnant women. In late January and early February, two patients with suspected infection were taken to a hospital near Moscow. Rospotrebnadzor conducts an epidemiological investigation in order to identify the source of infection. According to experts, it is possible to catch the virus only with close enough physical contact with the carrier, but the main danger is that it can be spread by people without any visible symptoms.
Modern vaccine against smallpox of monkeys
The N.F. Gamalei Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology is ready to create a modern, effective and safe vaccine against smallpox in monkeys using genetic engineering methods. This will allow the drug to be developed without severe side effects, Alexander Gintsburg, the head of the center, told Izvestia.
— The current vaccinations against the entire family of smallpox viruses based on a weakened vaccine strain cause strong reactogenicity. They can hardly be used in patients with immunodeficiency, of which there have been a lot lately. As well as other groups with restrictions, including pregnant women and children," he said.
Work on the new drug is already underway. However, at a rather low rate, since so far the authorities responsible for the epidemiological situation in the country have no clear interest. During the coronavirus pandemic, when all organizational issues were resolved very quickly, it was possible to achieve the desired result in four to five months, but now it takes much longer for all approvals, the head of the scientific organization explained.
According to him, it is very important to understand exactly where the first infected person identified in the Moscow region got infected with the smallpox virus. It is essential to find out whether this happened abroad or within the country, as these are models of the spread of the virus that require different strategies for anti-epidemic measures.
— It would be good to know which strain this virus belongs to, as there are two main variants of it. One of them has a mortality rate of 10%, and the other has a mortality rate of 1%. It is necessary to understand which of them circulates in our population. Or it was delivered only once. And it is necessary to organize a ring vaccination of all those who contacted, starting from medical workers and ending with family and friends," Alexander Gintsburg specified.
Monkey pox is a viral disease. It is most commonly found in Central and West Africa. The pathogen is related to the smallpox virus, but causes less dangerous symptoms. It was first identified in laboratory monkeys in 1958, and in humans in 1970 in the Republic of the Congo. Outbreaks of the disease in several countries were reported in 2022 and 2024. The virus is transmitted from person to person through close contact with a sick person, as well as through household items. From infected animals to humans — through bites or scratches, the use of skins and the consumption of meat. The incubation period lasts from five to 21 days. In the first three days after infection, fever, severe headache, enlarged lymph nodes, muscle and back pain, and weakness appear. A few days later, a rash is added. The disease usually lasts two to four weeks. A person is contagious until all crusts completely fall off and new skin forms.
Epidemiological investigation
According to the scientist, infection requires close contact with the patient, close communication, and being in the same room — while the virus is poorly transmitted through the air, it has such potential.
A case of smallpox in monkeys in Domodedovo, Moscow region, became known on January 31. At that time, one patient was hospitalized with inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. His condition is assessed as satisfactory. Together with the territorial bodies of Rospotrebnadzor, appropriate isolation measures are being carried out, according to the official Telegram channel of the Domodedovo Hospital. On February 2, the media reported that another patient with the same diagnosis had been taken there.
Specialists from the Department of Rospotrebnadzor in the Moscow region are conducting an epidemiological investigation in connection with the registration of a suspected case of smallpox in monkeys, the department said. A full range of anti-epidemic measures has been organized, biomaterial has been taken from the patient for examination, and the situation is under control.
"Contact persons have been identified, medical supervision and isolation have been organized for them. If the disease is confirmed, they will receive the necessary medical care. The forces of a specialized organization carried out final disinfection in the home," the official message of the department says.
Asymptomatic transmission
As Mikhail Bolkov, an immunologist and researcher at the Institute for the Study of Aging at the Russian National Research Medical Center, told Izvestia, in such a situation, first of all, it is necessary to conduct a genetic study of the virus to determine which subtype it belongs to, since all strains have different properties. In this case, the infection can spread covertly, through asymptomatic carriers.
— The authorities will identify a chain of possible infections in order to understand where the patient picked up the virus, because it is possible that the infection got to him through third parties who did not have any symptoms. We don't know any of this yet, it's too early to draw conclusions," Mikhail Bolkov added.
According to him, the virus is most common in African countries. It is transmitted by contact through exposed skin, household items, biological fluids, and infected animals. Like other viruses, the causative agent of smallpox in monkeys continuously mutates and changes its properties. However, this process is unlikely to lead to the emergence of a strain that could spread by airborne droplets.
"The transition of the virus to such a stage that it changes its ways of entry is a very rare phenomenon and is unlikely to happen now," the expert believes.
At the same time, there is no specific treatment for smallpox in monkeys. The infection is treated by general clinical methods, maintaining the patient's condition as a whole. In order to accurately assess the capabilities of existing anti-spin vaccines specifically against this pathogen, it is necessary to have extensive statistics, which are not yet available. The effect of the vaccine depends on the strain of the virus. It is believed that the effectiveness of the drug with the vaccine strain against monkey pox reaches 80%, the scientist explained.
Andrey Prodeus, Professor, Chief pediatric allergologist and immunologist at the Ministry of Health of the Moscow Region, agrees that the virus can spread covertly through asymptomatic carriers. They can be both those who do not get sick at all, and infected people who have not yet seen symptoms.
— This disease does not manifest itself on the first day. The symptoms may appear in a few weeks," said Andrei Prodeus.
Most cases of smallpox in monkeys are recorded in African countries. However, in 2022-2023, the outbreak also spread to Europe, the United States, Canada and Australia. In 2024, cases of monkeypox were reported in 15 countries, and the WHO declared the epidemic an emergency of international importance. From January 1 to June 30, 2025, 30,022 cases of monkeypox were reported worldwide. During this period, 119 people died from the disease in 79 countries, mostly in Africa.
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