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Since May this year we have seen numerous outbreaks of monkeypox outside the countries where it has been endemic. This has included around 3000 cases in the UK and over 38,000 cases globally, and on 23 July the WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Although vaccines developed for smallpox can reduce the risk of catching monkeypox, there are currently no proven therapeutics to speed recovery in those who develop the disease.
The team behind the RECOVERY trial have begun a new community-based trial – PLATINUM – to test if tecovirimat it is a safe and effective treatment for monkeypox.
Journalists came to this briefing to hear more about the trial and have their questions answered.
Speakers included:
Prof Sir Peter Horby, Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Global Health in the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford and Director of the Pandemic Sciences Institute
Prof Sir Martin Landray, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at Oxford Population Health