FDA puts the ‘test’ in ‘protest’ over mpox spread

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has swung into action, kicking off the registration process for mpox (formerly monkeypox) diagnostic test kits amid growing fears over the viral infection’s spread.

In a bold move, FDA Deputy Secretary-General Lertchai Lertwut revealed the new initiative yesterday, August 22. He stressed that the FDA is cutting red tape for manufacturers and importers alike, aiming to speed up approval and get these crucial kits on the shelves pronto to keep the public safe.

Want to know more? Head to the FDA’s official website for the lowdown on approved kits. If you’re a manufacturer or importer, make sure you check out the registration guidelines before diving in.

This urgent step follows the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) alarming announcement of a new mpox strain, dubbed Clade 1b-type, as a “public health emergency of international concern” after cases popped up in over ten African nations.

Darinda Rosa, acting director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Control 11 in Nakhon Si Thammarat, highlighted WHO’s concerns regarding the new strain’s higher transmissibility compared to the earlier variant.

Globally, more than 15,600 individuals have been diagnosed with the new mpox strain, resulting in 537 fatalities. In Thailand, 142 cases have been reported from January 1 to August 17, with three deaths attributed to the virus.

The Department of Disease Control has mandated that international airports, including Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports, as well as Laem Chabang Port, implement screening procedures for passengers arriving from Africa to curb the virus’s spread, reported Bangkok Post.

The Thai Red Cross Society yesterday initiated mpox vaccinations for the public, priced at 8,500 baht per dose, primarily targeting men who have sex with men and individuals with multiple sexual partners.

This follows Professor Emeritus Dr Wasun Chantratita from the Medical Genomics Center at the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, sharing insights on mpox. He highlighted that the Thai Red Cross has imported the vaccine, which reportedly reduces the severity of the disease by 68 to 80%.