Health News: Advancements and Alerts in Global Health

This briefing summarizes the latest updates in global health, including Bavarian Nordic's EU approval bid for the mpox vaccine, the US FDA's approval of an at-home syphilis test, and the detection of polio in Gaza. Additionally, it covers the urgent demand for mpox vaccines in Africa, WHO's meeting on medical access, and other critical health developments.

The latest health briefing covers significant updates. Bavarian Nordic has submitted data to the EU's drug regulator to extend the use of its mpox vaccine to adolescents, aiming to tackle a declared global public health emergency. Meanwhile, the US FDA has approved the first over-the-counter, at-home test for syphilis antibodies, promising faster and wider screening capabilities.

In Gaza, the Palestinian health ministry reported the first polio case, affecting a 10-month-old baby. German health experts are calling for urgent mpox vaccine distribution in Africa, where the virus is spreading rapidly. Pakistan, too, has confirmed a case of mpox, and the EU has raised its risk alert level following the detection of a new strain in Sweden.

The WHO is set to convene an emergency meeting to discuss equitable access to mpox vaccines and treatments. In the business side of health, Steward Health Care's bankruptcy led to the sale of its physician network, while Repligen is in acquisition talks with reagent vendor Maravai LifeSciences. These stories reflect ongoing efforts to address public health challenges globally.

(With inputs from agencies.)