Mpox is a viral infection that spreads through close contact, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesionsA test tube labelled "Mpox virus positive" is held in this illustration taken August 20, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing RightsA test tube labelled "Mpox virus positive" is held in this illustration taken August 20, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing RightsSeveral African and ex-Soviet countries have expressed interest in buying Russia's vaccine against smallpox and mpox viruses, as well as testing systems and antiviral treatments, Russia's consumer and health watchdog told Reuters. The DRC and Rwandan governments did not respond to requests for comment about the Russian vaccine. A senior public health executive in Uzbekistan said the government did not need the vaccine because there had been no mpox cases in the country.
