New Delhi: The spread of Monkeypox virus has been increasing gradually. Gripping over 80 countries, the virus has so far infected around 14,000 people worldwide.
India has already detected 4 cases. Meanwhile, an important information has been revealed by the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) which may bolster the fight against monkeypox.
ICMR isolates (purifies) Monkeypox virus
ICMR claimed that they have isolated (purified) the monkeypox virus. They rolled out invitation to various vaccine developers and manufactures and sought to provide them with the isolated virus.
The vaccine manufacturers can use the isolated virus to work on the development of vaccine.
ICMR in a tweet claimed that they they have isolated the virus. The tweet reads, “Monkeypox virus is isolated by ICMR for the first time in India and ICMR has invited an EoI, proposing to handover the virus strain to interested Indian vaccine and IVD industry partners for development of indigenous vaccine & diagnostic kits for Monkeypox.”
The tweet also had some information regarding the isolation process. It read, “ICMR-NIV, Puune has successfully isolated and cultured the Monkeypox virus strain from the samples of infected Indian patients.”
NIV has the genomic sequencing
It further read, “Genomic sequence of the Indian strains has 99.85% match with the West African strains, circulating globally.”
Invites vaccine manufacturers
“ICMR has invited an Expression of Interest (EoI), proposing to handover the virus strain to interested Indian vaccine and IVD industry partners for development of indigenous vaccine and diagnostic kits for Monkeypox,” it read further.
Monkeypox virus is isolated by @icmr_niv for the first time in India and ICMR has invited an EoI, proposing to handover the virus strain to interested Indian vaccine and IVD industry partners for development of indigenous vaccine & diagnostic kits for #Monkeypox. @MoHFW_INDIA pic.twitter.com/IwTfA4KTPO
— ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) July 27, 2022
