Mpox had been spreading mostly undetected for years in Africa, until a 2022 outbreak reached more than 70 countries.

Miners, sex workers and traders pass through the remote town of Kamituga in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been singled out as a major infection hotspot in the mpox outbreak

A new strain of mpox is ravaging eastern Congo, particularly affecting children and pregnant women. The lack of funding, vaccines, and public awareness is hindering containment efforts.

LONDON (Reuters) -Bavarian Nordic said on Thursday its mpox vaccine was approved by the EU's drug regulator for use in adolescents, bolstering the case for using the shot in the 12 to 17 age group to contain an outbreak in parts of Africa.

The European Commission has approved Bavarian Nordic's (OTCPK:BVNRY)(OTCPK:BVNKF) mpox shot for adolescents between 12 and 17 years old. Approval was based on data from a clinical study of more than 300 adolescents and 200 adults that found non-inferior immune responses and similar safety profile between both age groups after two standard doses