MUMBAI (Reuters) – Indian state research body ICMR said it has isolated the monkeypox virus and is inviting vaccine makers to consider making shots after the country reported some cases of infection.
The Indian Council of Medical Research on Wednesday invited expression of interest for development of vaccine against monkeypox and also for development of diagnostic kits to help in detection of the disease.
The last date for submission of application is Aug. 10.
“ICMR is willing to make available monkeypox virus strain/ isolates for undertaking R&D, validation as well as manufacturing activities using characterized isolates of monkeypox virus,” it said.
India reported its first confirmed case of monkeypox earlier this month.
Monkeypox, endemic in parts of Africa, is a viral disease that causes flu-like symptoms and skin lesions. Around 60 countries in which monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the disease.
(Reporting by Nupur Anand and Krishna Das; Editing by Jan Harvey and David Evans)
